He’s often called the most successful musician most people haven’t heard of and, like many a well-worn phrase, there’s a lot of truth in that statement.
His name’s Steven Wilson, his first album came out more than 30 years ago, and he sells out venues such as The Royal Albert Hall whenever he tours. Heard of him? Most people haven’t.
Alongside 8 solo albums – of which I’m recommending the latest – he’s also released in the region of 40 studio albums across a half dozen other bands/projects etc. So he’s quite prolific. Oh and he’s the remixer of choice when one of your favourite classic rock albums gets the Dolby Atmos treatment. So quite talented too.
“The Overview” (2025) is a concept album – without a pixie or wizard in sight you’ll be glad to hear – about the overview effect: the cognitive shift people experience when they first view the Earth from space. It’s an overwhelming sense of awe, when the brain can’t easily-accept the striking visual stimulus that they see.
So far, so prog. But please don’t let that turn you off. It’s magnificent.
Two tracks, both around 20 minutes in length – it’s prog rock, what do you expect? – are simply stunning. Like modern day classical movements, themes come and go, and each piece builds and builds to a beautiful finale.
Speaking of the first “movement” (“Objects Outlive Us”, the second is titled “The Overview”), The Guardian’s Alexis Petridis called it: “An 18-minute-long suite that throws in every influence imaginable from Warp Records-style techno to Floyd melancholy to gleefully OTT prog-metal and somehow, astonishingly, works: unexpected but triumphant.”
Give it a listen. You may find a new favourite album. Or waste 40 minutes of your life. It’s worth the risk.
Track 1: “Objects Outlive Us”
Track 2: “The Overview“