Up the Downstair is the second studio album by Britishprogressive rock bandPorcupine Tree, first released in June 1993. It was originally intended to be a double album set including the song "", which was instead released as a single in 1992, and other material that ended up on the Staircase InfinitiesEP. It is the band's shortest studio album and the only one under 50 minutes in length. In 2005, it was partially re-recorded, fully re-mixed, remastered and re-released along with the Staircase Infinities EP as a double album. The re-release contains a new mix by Steven Wilson, along with recorded drums by Gavin Harrison that replace the electronic drums of the original version. Steven Wilson has stated that the title of the album came from a line in the song "Voyage 34." There is still a title track, however. Another re-release on double vinyl was pressed on 14 August 2008 on Kscope records. This is identical to the 2005 release, except it is printed on coloured vinyl and the Staircase Infinities disc contains the song "Phantoms". According to Wilson, Up the Downstair channeled "the Orb and the Future Sound of London, but also Floyd and Ozric Tentacles. If I liked it, I didn’t give a fuck."
Track listing
All music written by Steven Wilson. All lyrics written by Wilson, except "Always Never", "Small Fish" and "Fadeaway", written by Alan Duffy.
2005 Remastered And Remixed Edition
Many songs differ a little in length in the revamped edition of Up the Downstair.
Richard Barbieri – Electronics on "Up the Downstair"
Suzanne J. Barbieri – Vocals on "Up the Downstair"
Gavin Harrison – Drums
Alan Duffy - co-songwriting on "Always Never", "Small Fish", "Fadeaway" & "The Joke's on You"
Reviews
Professional reviews:
Melody Maker - They've embarked upon a mission impossible: to create a truly Nineties progressive rock soundscape, utilising modern technology but avoiding prog pomposity. And they've managed it with room to spare. It's a strange and wonderful brew, taking in Orb ambience, FSoL dub, Metallica steel and all points in between. Ambient space dubs, technological cut-ups and Gregorian chants texture the sound, but the fire at the heart of the noise comes from good old guitar. Be warned, there are solos here, but they're played with a force and a purity that defies indulgence.
Organ - "Up The Downstair" is an LP that hides many surprises for the attentive listener. After a few spins you realise that even the sounds mixed into the background and he vocal interventions from old "drug" records all play a part in this warm, soothing lysergic tapestry that contains sparse, but matching lyrics. When I wrote an article on Porcupine Tree last year I predicted that this act would become a "third way" in New British Psychedelia. This record only confirms my statement. "Up The Downstair" is a record to get incredibly stoned to !
CMJ - Up The Downstair retains the band's willowy roots in Albion psychedelia but expands the brief, dropping its cheesy self-consciousness while infusing some contemporary dance auras with more 'group-like' interaction.
