Steven Wilson Hand. Cannot. Erase. Blu-ray Review

Track List

1)     First Regret
2)     Three Years Older
3)     Hand Cannot Erase
4)     Perfect Life
5)     Routine
6)     Home Invasion
7)     Regret
8)     Transience
9)     Ancestral
10)  Happy Returns
11)  Ascendant Here On

Introduction

Steven Wilson released his fourth solo title named “Hand. Cannot.  Erase.” this February through Kscope.  The musician lineup is familiar to Wilson’s three other solo releases and includes:

• Guthrie Govan  - guitar
• Adam Holzman  - keyboards
• Nick Beggs - bass / stick
• Marco Minneman – drums

Hand Cannot Erase is a progressive concept album written from the perspective of a woman who lives in a large city between 2008 and 2015.  It is inspired by the true story of Joyce Carol Vincent, who lived in London and died unnoticed in her apartment.  Her body wasn’t discovered for three years.  The fact that this young attractive woman who lived in a 21^st Century city wasn’t missed at all after her death inspired Mr. Wilson to write this deep concept album filled with electronic percussions, colorful melodic sounds, killer guitar and drums, and meaningful lyrics.  Hand Cannot Erase shows the softer side of Mr. Wilson at tunes as the music tends to be more meditative and reflective than his darker and heavier releases.  The songs tend to build from a soft intro, weaving in and out of various rhythms and patterns without repeating.  Once you’re hooked on a riff, it’s gone to the next catchy riff.  Mr. Wilson told Audioholics in our interview that he received his new custom built Mellotron last year.  This album is filled with amazing Mellotron sounds, but not as I initially anticipated.  Instead of the 70s Crimson/Genesis sounds, Wilson’s playing takes on a more modern edge when considering the music style of the songs.  Wilson’s voice is the best I’ve heard him sing to date and the guitar leads are more melodic with less overall distortion when compared to something like The Raven That Refused To Sing.  There’s also very little wind instruments on this release, perhaps to emphasize his new Mellotron. 

The Blu-ray version of “Hand. Cannot. Erase.” is well worth the investment for several reasons.  First, the sound is amazing.  Then add to that the fact that each track includes pictures and artwork that take you through the concept behind the title which is about the journey of this woman’s life between 2008 and 2015.  In addition to a track-by-track story board, the Blu-ray includes alternative versions and mixes of the songs, as well as instrumental versions of every song on the title.  There’s also a behind the scenes documentary of the making of the release along with interviews of Mr. Wilson which really gives you great insights on all the production involved in making this album.

Audio Quality

The Blu-ray version is mixed in 96/24 5.1 LPCM and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.  Wilson shared his views on mixing in our exclusive interview.  Part of the secret to the great fidelity of his multi-channel music is he doesn’t allow a master engineer to touch the mixes which helps preserve dynamic range. He also uses the studio as an instrument for making his mixes as opposed to trying to recreate a live performance.

I listened to the entire release twice while making notes each time.  These are my track-by-track observations of the songs along with comments on the images that play on the Blu-ray. 

Track-By-Track Review

1)     First Regret (2:01) – This is a short and sweet intro tune with piano and keyboards.  It starts with a picture of a young girl along with a hand written note titled “Initial Child Observation” that starts out saying “She is a friendly little girl.”  It’s unclear if this is the woman or if it is one of her children.

2)      3 Years Older (10:18) - This tune starts big on the Mellotron and then moves to a guitar chord progression that is almost “The Who” like.  Marco Minneman kicks in with some stellar drumming and then we hear great harmonies.   The music weaves between piano keys and smoking guitar and has some nice clean leads resembling Steve Howe.  It never stays on same pattern for more than a few moments.  The pictures show a grown woman who is wearing glasses and has tattoos.  The dates specified are between October 2008 and August 2009.   One picture shows her looking out her apartment window into a city scene.  The pictures then seem to go back in time to watch the child grow up.  There’s even a report card and child-like drawing that is presumably a self-portrait.  Then, about half way through, there’s a great Keith Emerson-esc Moog solo. 

3)     Hand Cannot Erase (4:17) – The song starts with electronic percussion and vocals with keys in the background.  The pictures show a girl at college age and are dated Dec. 2009.  Wilson sings “Hand cannot erase this love” while the pictures show the woman with her boyfriend.  There’s some pop element to the song but it stays interesting and progressive.

4)     Perfect Life (4:46) – The pictures show the woman smoking and the dates go from 2009 to 2010.  The song starts with her talking along with electronic percussion.  It then builds with Wilson singing “We have got. We have got the Perfect Life.”  The drums kick in along with more keyboards and some beautiful Mellotron.  Overall, it’s a beautiful song.

5)     Routine (8:58) – Dates go from 2010 to 2011.  Again piano and vocals.  Mellow start.  There’s a brief pause then the piano builds up.  The music seems to be classical inspired.   Wilson’s voice is at his finest.  After another brief pause the song becomes a bit darker and there’s a great guitar solo with less distortion than typical Wilson songs.  Wilson sings with a female vocalist with the voice of an angle named Ninet Tayeb.  The song explodes with heavy keyboard and from the pictures, it seems like someone kidnapped her child. 

6)     Home Invasion (6:24).  Rocks out from the beginning with a long instrumental intro and  similarities to the band Tool.  The pictures show the woman looking up with lights in sky, perhaps Alien ships?  Very prog, heavy with distorted Moog keys and great guitar playing. 

7)     Regret #9 (5:00) – There’s a surprising Eddie Jobson sounding keyboard solo along with another smoking guitar lead.  The pictures show the woman seemingly isolated and at home alone in her apartment.

8)     Transience (2:43) – The song starts with a nice finger picking guitar intro with a synth sound layered in.  Soft vocals at the beginning and then moves into some great harmony singing reminiscent of Wilson of the past. 

9)     Ancestral (13:30) – Another electronic percussion intro.   This is also the first song with a flute.   The song builds nto a great melodic jam with tight drums and guitar picking.  There’s some stellar Mellotron in between changes.  The song then explodes with Wilson-esc volume.  Halfway through the song is a guitar lick that repeats until the end and reminds me of an Emerson, Lake and Palmer song called “The Knife” though with a few notes switched.  It is a very powerful jam.  In the pictures, the dates go from 2011 to 2012 to 2013 to 2014.  All the time, the woman is alone.  This is also the first time the album cover artwork pops up in the pictures.

10)  Happy Returns (6:00) – This is a very beautiful song that starts with a mellow intro.  The pictures start in 2014 and there are some photos of teenagers.  I’m not sure if it’s her son and daughter though.  The photos then move to 2015 with a painting.  Overall, it sounds like a happy song, which is odd for Wilson.

11)  Ascendant Here On (1:54) - Synth and keys.  Photos taken in 2015 show space and lights implying aliens.  Short and sweet.  Implies that the woman disappeared and nobody knew.

Conclusion

Overall, Hand. Cannot. Erase.  is an impressive title.  The sound quality is amongst the best multi-channel music mixes I’ve heard.  The songs are deep and with meaning and show a maturity of Wilson as a solo artist as they are more expansive and diverse than his previous amazing work.  There is an element to each song that will appease many musical tastes including pop, metal, rock and progressive.  It’s a concept album that is worth listening to in its entirety and following along with the images on the Blu-ray.  What I find most interesting about the Blu-ray version is that there is an instrumental version of every song.  Listening to the music without singing really highlights the musicianship, talent and amazing progressions found in each song. 

Scorecard

• Audio Quality: 5/5
• Features (liner notes): 5/5
• Overall: 5/5
  
  

Reference Equipment

• Yamaha RX-V2600 Receiver
• Samsung Blu-ray Player
• RBH Sound T-2 Towers
• RBH Sound Modified LCR Signature Series Surrounds