Four Stories Down EP - ON THE ROCKS

After the necessary long wait between albums it now looks like we'll be flooded by new Pineapple Thief releases. After I managed to buy a limited 2CD set of “12 stories down” the band has now officially released “10 stories down” which also comes as a limited 2CD combined with the extra album ‘8 days later”. Due to a mistake at the pressing plant promo copies of the new “10 stories down” contained drum'n bass music. I almost cried when I heard the music as I thought the band had left their mix of Radiohead meets Coldplay in order to deliver bland, danceable, computer oriented muck. I really felt relieved when I found out there had been a mistake in the pressing process. So whilst we're still waiting for our ‘proper' copy of “10 stories down”, which the band says is a re-evaluated, revamped and refined of some songs from the previously released “12 stories down” added by a stunning set of new songs to turn “10 stories down” into the best produced album by Pineapple Thief to date, we are treated to a 4-track EP which comes as a taster for the new album. The first two tracks are pulled from the new album, ‘The ground floor' is exclusive to this EP release whilst their classic track ‘Subside' has been given the ‘13th floor mix' treatment which in other words is more of an extended guitar mix. So this EP most certainly is a valuable addition to any PT (that's Pineapple Thief en not Porcupine Tree !) collector.

Opener ‘Clapham' puts a soft bossa nova like acoustic approach against a backdrop of mellotron to give it that nice contrast. As we have become acquainted to over the years, this song once again contains some strong vocal melodies and I'm convinced if this song was given the full commercial treatment backed with huge promotion that Pineapple Thief might well be snapped up by a major soon and step right in the footsteps of the aforementioned big shots. Maybe all depends on how well the new Coldplay album “X&Y” will do before other ‘soundalikes' will get a fair chance ? ‘Wretched soul' is based around a heavy guitar riff and some outrageous banging on the drums putting the song in a similar league like indie guitar oriented bands. Main difference here is that these guys play with heart and soul, something which can't be said for a large percentage of MTV manufactured bargage. ‘The ground floor' is completely exclusive to this release and once again contains Bruce Soord's soft voice swimming through a very sparse arrangement before exploding into a world with loud strumming guitars and great sounding melodies. Again in a slightly edited version this one could get daytime rotation straight away. This lovely EP closes with an extended guitarmix from the band's classic ‘Subside' which can be found in it's original form on the “Variations on a dream” album, the band's previous output.

Sometimes it takes a long time before you hear something new from these guys and often you hope that the band still exists, that they haven't quit because of success not happening or bandmembers leaving. With the current line-up they have enough talent available to last a lifetime and to keep believing in themselves because one day that telephone call will happen and the doors to eternal recognition will widely open. Open as heavenly like the overwhelming strings during the outro for ‘Subside'. From now on Pineapple Thief has to ring a bell in millions of households, has to appear both on Jools Holland's show as well as being invited by Jay Leno. Stunning in every single aspect of the word ! I'm a fan. I'm a huge fan !

John 'Bo Bo' Bollenberg

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