2-CD: SMACD885
RELEASED: 2005
LABEL: Snapper

Disc One (Up The Downstair)
01. What You Are Listening To...
02. Synesthesia
03. Monuments Burn Into Moments
04. Always Never
05. Up The Downstair
06. Not Beautiful Anymore
07. Siren
08. Small Fish
09. Burning Sky
10. Fadeaway

Disc Two (Staircase Infinities)
01. Cloud Zero
02. The Joke's On You
03. Navigator
04. Rainy Taxi
05. Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape

2005 digitally remastered reissue of Porcupine Tree's classic 1993 album with bonus tracks. Deluxe package featuring the stunning new re-recorded 2005 mix together with the rare companion release Staircase Infinities. A brooding atmospheric epic, it delivers stunning experimental electronic, guitar-led space rock with a darkly melodic heart. Including the classics "Burning Sky", "Up the Downstair", "Fadeaway' and "Always Never".

Up The Downstair was the first "proper" studio album by the band, as opposed to collections of demo tapes. Most of the music was written and performed solely by Steve Wilson, but Richard Barbieri (ex-Japan) and Colin Edwin both make appearances. The album has a mix of shorter songs and longer instrumentals, perhaps defining Porcupine Tree's general approach to music. Synesthesia is a great pop song, driven along by a pounding sequencer line and well-programmed drums. The title track is an instrumental very much in the same vein as Voyage 34. In fact given that the title is taken from the spoken snatches used in that track it is very much a direct sequel, although without quite the same impact. During the sessions for 'Up the Downstair' a lot more music was recorded than was actually used on the album. In addition 2 tracks were completed too late to be considered for the album. The 'Staircase Infinities' CD contains 3 out-takes from the album and the two tracks recorded shortly afterwards (in that order).
It should be considered as the missing tracks from the originally intented double album of 'Up the Downstair' which would also have included an edit of the first 2 phases of 'Voyage 34'. If you can't get enough of Porcupine Tree, make sure you get this one.