Steven Wilson

The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories) 2013

A conceptual love letter to the founding fathers of prog (lyrically inspired by ghost stories by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe), this was Steven Wilson’s first record as an all-out composer, and saw him writing specifically for his newly assembled virtuoso band.

A flowing set of immaculately composed vignettes, it’s thematically compelling and musically stunning throughout, with the edgy dynamism of Luminol, the gut-wrenching Drive Home and the dark and twisting The Watchmaker. It’s one of the strongest records he’s done, and features his best vocal performance to date in the hauntingly beautiful title track.