Steven Wilson's concept.

There are many musicians I admire.  I could write a list in a post that would be at least three pages.  It would be boring to go through that list to find your favorite.  It's even tougher when asked who do you admire now.  Few musicians stay at the top of this list all the time. I mention the admirations like Steven Wilson, Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter, and many others.  Steven Wilson is a man I admire the most.

I admire Steven Wilson for many reasons.  I admire him for dedication to the genre of Progressive Rock.  I love him for his having carte-blanche on certain artists I respect, admire and love to listen to, and can go to one of their old albums and make it sound fresh, new and even better when it was released.  He has had his hand in working with bands such as XTC, Gentle Giant, Hawkwind, Chicago, Tears for Fears, Yes, King Crimson, and ELP.  When you hear his mixes from these artists most reputable work you are amazed on how these albums sound so good and have that "WOW" moment.  Not only will he re-work the album, he will even include bonus material also gets a set of fresh ears to us.

I also admire Steven Wilson for his music.  He formed a band called Porcupine Tree.  This band was and is considered one of the best modern Progressive Rock bands.  He made listening to Progressive Rock not as a joke, but as a serious sub genre of Rock and Roll.  Porcupine Tree live was a ja dropping experience and as myself who has seen them fifteen times it was amazing.  Each show topped the pervious show I saw.  He hired the best people for this band.  Richard Barbieri is an amazing veteran keyboard player who was part of the Progressive/Art Rock band Japan.  A band I'm sure Steve admired.  The bass player Colin Edwin has been with him since the beginning and he has grown into a monster electric bass player.  Lastly, you have Gavin Harrison.  He replaced the previous drummer.  His resume you can read on Wikipedia, but his most impressive drumming comes after the dissolve of Porcupine Tree.  He is the current drummer for King Crimson.  Playing along side of Pat Mastelotto and Jeremy Stacey.  Seeing him in King Crimson Gavin has found his comfort zone.  

After Porcupine Tree called it a day Steven decided to make solo albums.  In my eyes each was better then the previous album.  They all had powerful statements and saw each of the solo tours that followed them.  When I saw The Raven That Refused to Sing tour I thought he reached his top of the mountain.  I was wrong, but maybe he was claiming two mountains at the same time.  As soon as he was done with the Raven tour, he was on his game with more and powerful ideas.  I wish I had his mind that's for sure.  When you catch lightning in a bottle, make sure you hold on to it.  He did just that.  

As we all eagerly waited to his follow-up to Raven he posted YouTube clips showing his progress.  These clips were about five to six minutes in length.  They were great teasers of what he was working on.  His band was no slouch either.  Hearing Nick, Marco, Adam, and Guthrie play their perspective instruments.  Their talent is amazing.  Steven loved working with these players and mentioned in an interview that he wanted them to stretch outside their comfort zone.  He succeeded very well.  

"It's About a women growing up, who goes to live in the city, very isolated, and she disappears one day and no one notices."  Steven Wilson talking about the album Hand. Cannot. Erase Basic concept of the album.  It's one of the best albums of his short solo catalog.  What I love about it is the mix of not only Progressive Rock genre, but there is well crafted pop song that only Steven Wilson can write. He can also write a terrific album too.  This is proof that when you go solo from a band you started, you can still rock with the best and still make music that far exceeds the music you did in the past.  If you see him touring, check out the shows.  He is jaw-dropping and like all the shows I went to (about 7) you scratch your head in amazement.