Of the New Day
2022 single by Porcupine Tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Of the New Day" is a song by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, released on 8 March 2022 as the second single in promotion of the band's eleventh studio album Closure/Continuation. The track was released alongside a music video.[1][2][3][4]
| "Of the New Day" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Porcupine Tree | ||||
| from the album Closure/Continuation | ||||
| Released | 8 March 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2011–September 2021 | |||
| Length | 4:43 | |||
| Label | Music for Nations | |||
| Songwriter | Steven Wilson | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Porcupine Tree singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background and composition
According to front-man Steven Wilson, "Of the New Day is a song of rebirth, emerging from the darkness", further elaborating by stating how "It sounds deceptively simple, a recognisably atypical Porcupine Tree ballad. That is until you realise that the length of the bars is constantly changing, flipping between bars of regular 4
4 time to 3
4, to 5
4 to 6
4, 11
4, so that the track never settles into any steady time."[5][1]
Wilson also noted how the track is something the band could do very well, stating how the band could come up with "a basic idea that’s almost intellectual or mathematical".[5][6]
Reception
In a review of Closure/Continuation, David Rodriguez of Everything is Noise enjoyed the track, calling it a calm, ballad-esque track. They had also noted the gimmick of constantly changing time signatures, saying it's fitting given the topic of change, evolution, and rebirth.[7] Another review of the record by Thom Jurek of AllMusic enjoyed the track, stating that the track asserted itself as a "spacious ballad" that spirals into "angular prog", "blurring time signatures", and harmonics before "returning to the lithe, keyboard-centric melody".[8]
Emma Johnston of Classic Rock described the track as a "psychedelic swirl" that gives way to the next track, "Rat's Return".[9] Another positive review of the track by Steview Chuck of The Guardian noted that "despite the budding sophistication of his solo work, the Wilson of Porcupine Tree remains a better musician than lyricist, but there’s a sense of chiaroscuro at play within the sensitive chord changes of Of the New Day that assures us he is no mere technical genius, and that a heart beats beneath Closure/Continuation’s flash and flair."[10]
Brad Sanders of Pitchfork described the track as a strangely paranoid sounding ballad in a similar-vein to earlier tracks such as "Lazarus" and "My Ashes".[11] Brice Ezell of PopMatters praised the track. They called the track a gorgeous tune that justifies the band's reunion on its own, also interpreting the track's lyrics as about the "now tenuous time for Porcupine Tree".[12]
Personnel
Personnel per album liner notes[13] Porcupine Tree
- Steven Wilson – vocals, guitars, bass, piano, mixing, design concept, production
- Richard Barbieri – keyboards, synthesisers, production
- Gavin Harrison – drums, percussion, drum mixing, production
Production
- Ian Anderson of The Designers Republic – art direction, image editor, photography, graphic design, creative director
- Paul Stacey – additional guitar recording
- Ed Scull – additional guitar recording engineering
- Penny Morgan, Peter Rudge, Pro Music Management – management