Pineapple Thief, The - Variations On A Dream


Year of Release: 2003
Label: Cyclops
Catalog Number: CYCL 129
Format: CD
Total Time: 62:58:00

Manic Street Preachers meets Pink Floyd meets Radiohead meets Porcupine Tree. That is the only way I can best describe the music of Pineapple Thief, a band I discovered through the guestbook of Landmarq. The history of the band is a bit vague, as their website only mentions the events that led to the recording of their third album, Variations On A Dream. Frontman Bruce Soord is also active in the band Vulgar Unicorn, another band that, sort of, lives in the shadows. So, as there is not much background, let's move and talk about the music!

As I said, the sound is a bit of a mix between the aforementioned bands, but just saying that would do no credit to this band, as it is not just an album full of copied songs. On the contrary, Bruce Soord has managed to bring the best elements of these bands together in 10 songs, with some that are quite radio-friendly, and sets the example for bands like Radiohead or Coldplay. The title of the album, Variations On A Dream, covers the music very good, as the atmosphere from the album is very ambient, with mellow synths and guitars. But there are also more up-tempo songs, like "Run Me Through," with more drums and a superb guitar solo. But even with the simplicity of just piano and acoustic guitar, they know how to make a beautiful song. Just listen to "The Bitter Pill." The instrumental "Resident Alien" is a joy for the ears, with fresh and colourful keyboard arrangements. "Part Zero," knows some more heavy guitar riffs and lots of mellotron, where they perfectly blend the rock influences with their ambient sound. Closing track "Remember Us" takes you on a 16 minute journey through their dream world, and will make sure you won't forget them!

Variations On A Dream is a fantastic album to relax with and lose all the stress. Nothing predictable, but truly as a dream, with skilled musicians, excellent vocals and solid compositions. It is a bit of a sombre album, but with hope shining at the horizon. Not just in the lyrics, but also in the fact that Soord is already working on a new Pineapple Thief album! Still, if you don't already have Variations On A Dream, get it; and if you are lucky, get the limited edition with a full length album bonus disc, with more fantastic ambient music from this "dream composer." And look out for the next album, for, as Soord himself says on his website, it "is going to be schizophrenic, to say the least."

Similar bands: Porcupine Tree, Manic Street Preachers

[This review originally appeared July 2003 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
We Subside (4:58) / This Will Remain Unspoken (3:27) / Vapour Trails (8:31) / Run Me Through (4:43) / The Bitter Pill (4:35) / Resident Alien (4:14) / Sooner Or Later (3:59) / Part Zero (7:28) / Keep Dreaming (4:21) / Remember Us (16:04)

Musicians:
Bruce Soord - guitars, vocals, keyboards
Adrian Soord - mellotron, Fender Rhodes, Hammond, piano, synths
Nick Lang - drums, cymbals
Mark Harris - electric & acoustic bass

Discography:
Abducting The Unicorn (1999)
137 (2002)
Variations On A Dream (2003)
Variations On A Dream - Ltd. Edition (2003)
Live 2003 (2003)
12 Stories Down (2004)
4 Stories Down (ep) (2005)
10 Stories Down (2005)
Little Man (2006)
What We Have Sown (2007)
Tightly Unwound (2008)
Someone Here Is Missing (2010)
Someone Here Is Live (2010)
All The Wars (2012)
Live At The 013 (2013)
Magnolia (2014)
Your Wilderness (2015)
Live 2014 (2015)
Where We Stood (2017)
Dissolution (2018)

Live 2003 (2004) (DVD+CD)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: January 17th 2005
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.thepineapplethief.com
Hits: 2526
Language: english

  

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