A mixtape for a friend, who wanted to join us on the Porcupine Tree tour this December. This is a mix of personal favourites and songs I believed were important to hear to get into Porcupine Tree. Was pretty excited someone cared for Porcupine Tree.

Disc 1:
Disc One mostly covers three to five minute long tracks (listening habits of friend weren't perfectly sure to me, guess some Coldplay related, but also gothic stuff) and is ment for starters.

Drawing the Line
I thought of this song to be the perfect Number One for it's not that long (like the following Shesmovedon) and it's catchy tune character. Wilson's voice is very nice potraied.

Shesmovedon
Shesmovedon was a personal choice, mostly because of the lyrics and the acoustic guitar. Hits the average mood of PT's works pretty good.

Piano Lessons
This is one of the happiest songs PT ever made (NB: personal opinion) and thus dismantles the thoughtful tunes and moods before. What is also becoming clear is their attitude to society and the publishing of art, which will also occur in The Sound of Muzak (see beyond).

Sentimental
I chosed Sentimental over Trains (as they are to pretty similar songs) because of Trains' popularity and therefore the likeliness she (the listener) will get into this track if she decides to listen to some more PT. That wouldn't happen to Sentimental THAT likely, which I thought of to have been a little sad.

Halo
Halo is a Deadwing classic, it sums up great movements out of Open Car, Shallow, and the song Deadwing itself. Though both Open Car and Shallow could've been the carriers for some personal messages, I dropped out of that, only to focus on the art, not the interpersonal meanings the listener would have been able to extract.

Kneel and Disconnect
There can be many words to describe Kneel and Disconnect and there would be much to say about my experience. I will put it simple, like Wilson did: Love!

Start of Something Beautiful
Fits perceftly just after Kneel and Disconnect, and was also chosen because of it's great movements. For someone new into Porcupine Tree, this is maybe the most accessible track with more than seven minutes playtime.

Slave Called Shiver
To be honest, I only picked that because it is on the Stupid Dream record. I personally don't like it that much I adore Lightbulb Sun (which was released just a few months later), but it got a lot of 10/10 (and the like) reviews - it's sure an important album to know. Shiver chsoen over Pure Narcotic, because it fit the mood a little better.

Arriving Somewhere but not Here
Never stop the car on a drive in the dark, never look for the thruth in your mother's eyes.
Magnificent lyrics, yet there is a chance they might not be unterstood just hours after somebody listened to PT for the first time. This is definetly one of PT's best, but also one that needs a looong time to unfurl.

Hatesong (Live, Warszawa Version)
Wonderfully clear recoring, to hear Wilsons voice live. Hatesong would've been chosen anyway (no rational motivations, I felt like she'd like it).

The Sound of Muzak
Sound of Muzak is a pop song subverting pop music. This contains a message if you give it to someone listening to mainstream house music (which is by no doubt pretty transient) if you intend to or don't. I like that irony, and am sure Muzak brings a smile to a face when this irony is understood.

The Rest Will Flow
Rest Will Flow catches up with the light-footed mood of the prior track, especially in the string-supported refrain. This is a track for dreamers - Eyes closed.

Collapse the Light into Earth
Because of its powerful hope and the irritating yet beautiful formula: Collapse the Light into Earth. Now what on earth is that supposed to mean?


Disc 2:
Contrary to Disc 1, Disc 2 features only tracks (with one exception) longer than seven minutes. It is supposed to be played after the first disc, and most recommendable in the evening.

Not Beautiful Anymore
This is ment to build a bridge between the two discs. It has some catchy moral in it, but also musical resemblance to the following tracks. Was chosen over Four Chords that made a Million because it has less lyrics.

Yellow Hedgerow Dreamspace (EP Version)
This is the 9.36 minute version from the epic Staircase Infinities EP. Pink Floyds influences are most obvious here.

Radioactive Toy
Radioactive Toy is very chilling and literally the oldest song on this mixtape and therefore might be a nice contrast to Anesthetize. We'll see.

Russia on Ice
This track needs no introduction.

Anesthetize
By far the youngest track on this Disc, was very muched liked by the audience, and so will most propably the easiest track on this record (for someone who was born not long before On the Sunday of Life and Up the Downstair). After finishing this mixtape, I realised Anesthetize should've been track number three.

No Reason to Live, No Reason to Die
Builds an enclosure with the Dreamspace, fits perfectly.

Stop Swimming (Live, Warszawa Version)
As Wilson states in this version, it's one of his favourite songs he ever wrote (to that date, of course). This is the reason it's on this reco-CD.