At some point in our lives, we’ve all looked up at the stars and wondered about the universe—how vast it is and how small we are in comparison. That sense of awe and reflection is at the core of The Overview, Steven Wilson’s seventh solo album, an ambitious and thought-provoking work. The album is inspired by the “Overview Effect,” a shift in perspective astronauts experience when they see Earth from space—a moment that changes how they view life and our planet. While this concept alone is compelling, it is Wilson’s musical interpretation that elevates it into something extraordinary.
For months, Wilson has hinted in interviews that he has “gone back to a more progressive style”— and he delivers. Those hoping for a return to the sonic landscapes of The Raven That Refused to Sing and Hand.Cannot.Erase., will find that Wilson has indeed embraced his progressive rock roots. This is sure to please many long-time fans.
The album consists of just two expansive pieces: Objects Outlive Us (23:17) and The Overview (18:27). While the format alone will undoubtedly appeal to fans of progressive rock, it is the music itself that solidifies its place among his finest achievements.
Wilson has always possessed a distinctive sonic fingerprint, a set of musical motifs that have surfaced throughout his career, from early Porcupine Tree records to his solo output. The lush vocal harmonies, rich acoustic textures, dissonant guitar lines, and ethereal keyboard tones—elements that were subdued in favor of electronic experimentation on The Future Bites and The Harmony Codex—return here with full force. The result is an album that feels both familiar and adventurous, blending past and present into a cohesive artistic statement.
At 23 minutes, the opening track, “Objects Outlive Us” is one Wilson’s strongest efforts in some time and an encapsulation of his compositional strengths. It opens with his delicate falsetto, suspended in an almost weightless atmosphere, before a haunting piano refrain emerges, layering harmonies that steadily build in intensity. The track is structured into eight subsections, seamlessly weaving between ethereal melodies, dynamic rock passages, and grand climactic moments. Rather than dissecting each transition, it is enough to say that the piece unfolds with a sense of purpose and inevitability, culminating in one of Wilson’s most breathtaking finales. A true masterpiece.
The second track, “The Overview,” begins in stark contrast. Its first five minutes recall the ambient textures of The Harmony Codex, with a spoken-word passage by Wilson’s wife, Rotem, reciting cosmic distances over a pulsating electronic backdrop. This dreamlike introduction soon gives way to Wilson’s signature acoustic guitar and layered vocal harmonies—reminiscent of Stupid Dream and Lightbulb Sun—while later sections nod to Hand.Cannot.Erase., with soaring guitar leads and an emotive breakdown. The track concludes on a subdued yet evocative note, with a plaintive saxophone melody floating over ambient synth textures, gently bringing the album to a close.
The musicianship throughout The Overview is impeccable. Adam Holzman’s expressive keyboard work, Randy McStine’s fluid guitar passages, and Craig Blundell’s dynamic drumming breathe life into Wilson’s compositions. One of the album’s defining characteristics—especially in contrast to Wilson’s previous two releases—is its reliance on organic instrumentation, with guitars and live drums taking center stage. This choice enhances the progressive rock ethos of the album, grounding its cosmic themes in rich, human expression.
If there was one critique, it is that the album is only 41 minutes. As brilliant as it is, it’s over so quickly that you wish there was more. But perhaps that’s part of what makes it work.
Steven Wilson has long wrestled with the “prog” label, at times embracing it and at others deliberately subverting expectations. Yet sometimes, an artist excels in a particular space, and The Overview finds Wilson fully embracing his strengths. To borrow a sports analogy, it is reminiscent of Michael Jordan’s brief departure from basketball to play baseball—only to return to the game where he was truly unparalleled. Likewise, Wilson has returned to his progressive roots and, in doing so, has crafted one of his most compelling works. Welcome back, Mr. Wilson.
Get The Overview here: https://stevenwilson.lnk.to/theoverview
Released on March 14th, 2025.
Tracklisting:
OBJECTS OUTLIVE US (23.17)
No Monkey’s Paw
The Buddha Of The Modern Age
Objects: Meanwhile
The Cicerones
Ark
Cosmic Sons Of Toil
No Ghost On The Moor
Heat Death Of The Universe
THE OVERVIEW (18.27)
Perspective
A Beautiful Infinity I
Borrowed Atoms
A Beautiful Infinity II
Infinity Measured In Moments
Permanence
Steven Wilson / vocals, guitars, keyboards, sampler, bass, percussion, programming
With:
Adam Holzman / keyboards
Randy McStine / guitars
Craig Blundell / drums
The artwork for The Overview was illustrated/photographed by Hajo Muller and designed by Carl Glover.
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