ADAM THISTLETHWAITE
When he’s not wrangling his Flying V with modern British rockers Massive Wagons, the guitarist’s partial to the work of Steven Wilson.
“When I was in uni around 2006, I had a mate who was into Porcupine Tree. I’d hear him playing their music and some songs stuck with me, like Trains and Blackest Eyes. Then I learned that Steven Wilson was at the core of that band, and there was this massive, rich back catalogue for me to go and dive into.
Some of the early stuff is a little too out-there for me, but I liked a lot of stuff on Lightbulb Sun
[2000] – fantastic, hooky songs like Four Chords That Made A Million and Shemovedon. I think In Absentia, Deadwing and Fear Of A Blank Planet
are all masterpieces. I like the new one [Closure/ Continuation] but, for me, those three albums are Porcupine Tree at their peak.
A few years ago I was a bit bored with the music I was into. I wanted something to really dig my teeth into, and I was intrigued by the cover of The Raven That Refused To Sing, so I got hold of the album and instantly I was like, ‘Oh, this is exactly what I need right know.’ The musicianship was great, it was technical but the song came first.
Whatever Steven Wilson does, the song does come first, and that’s why
I connect with him and the music he makes perhaps more than other, similar artists, who can get a bit self-indulgent.
I’ve seen him live a few times, at Bridgewater Hall [Manchester]. The best one was on the tour for Hand. Cannot. Erase., which I think is the best thing he’s ever done. I just love the dark concept behind it, the hooks and melodies are there, and the songs build, but not in traditional ways. As a songwriter, that’s really interesting to me.
What I like about him is also what seems to get a few people’s backs up about him – he does his own thing. He’s created this mystique, this aura about him. He’s a real rock star, there is a mystery there, and I think that’s important.
You need to maintain that kind of barrier. What might be mistaken for pretentiousness is just him doing exactly what he wants and not apologising for it. But he backs it up with quality output, whether it be writing, producing or remixing.
He’s got the goods, so you can’t argue with that, really.”
“He’s a real rock star – there’s a mystery there, and that’s important.”
Triggered! is out now via Earache. See www.massivewagons.com for more.