The singing of a child, out of focus images, is the beginning of the movie documenting the life of genius Steven Wilson. Probably it pictures the memories that Steve retains from his childhood: a song that we can also find in his side project Incredibile Expanding Mindfuck, and confused reminiscences. The film then takes us through the main artistic stages of Steven, who as the protagonist recalls it all, goes back to the school where as a youth he began to pour out his talent, then moves on to more recent successes, the travel to Mexico accompanied by Susana Mohayo, his passage to Japan, to the Melloboat in Sweden, up to Insurgentes. The documentary, just like the solo album's music, is a journey through Steven's artistic life, but even more dilated and deep, including meaningful encounters with "characters" such as Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth, the travel companion Susanna Moyaho, his parents, and many more who in their own way have been an influence and an aid in Steven's life and artistic development.
The first impression that we get watching the DVD and its succession of images, lights, music, is that it reminds of the Live at Pompeii of Pink Floyd, really exciting and moving episodes, as the one in Steven's parents' home, where he finds the lyrics written by Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape, then digs out his first delay machine and the tape machine: he then starts explaining, along with his father, how they built and used those machines for the very first tapes that Steven recorded, embryonic stages of Porcupine Tree. After that, we are guided through the mostly successful times in Steven's life: TV shows; Porcupine Tree playing Chicago and Pink Pop Festival; as Bass Communion, live in Mexico City and in Antwerp (Belgium); as Blackfield, intimate playing sessions in a living room with a few friends, then Steven's trips to Israel visiting Aviv Geffen, the interviews for major music magazines, where Steven mostly expresses his love for music and his negative view of the use of modern technologies such as iPods and mp3 files, that often expose an artist's work and his investment in time, money and energy to the chance of being erased in a click. Included in the movie are of course the episodes in which Steven tries out various methods of iPod destruction. Fundamental is also the meetup with Carl Glover, the man behind design and photography of Bass Communion's albums: the two of them visit where those musical masterpieces were born, talking about the magic evoked by those places. The direction by Lasse Hoile is as perfect as we expect, knowing his skills and professionality, with a perfect balance among the different stages of Steven's life, and the introduction of unreleased material such as bits of the beautiful video of Harmony Korine, keeping the spectator focused and entertained. The soundtrack is certainly impressive: a lot of music from Insurgentes, but also from Bass Communion, plus material from the hoe studio at No-Man's Land, where Steven generally records and composes. There are funny episodes too: Steven wearing a Mickey Mouse hat on a trip to Disney World, though both Steven and the soundtrack are totally un-merry, underlining the contrast between his self and the ready-made fun that surrounds him.
This film is a true gem, seen Steven Wilson's habitual discretion and an essential document for his fans, but also for those who love art and music, who might well find themselves better people after the vision of this film, climbing a stair on a cultural staircase.
The release of Insurgentes DVD in two discs, scheduled for the 25th of October, ( preorder at KScope ) will include many extras: 31 minutes of the Bass Communion show and of Pig live in Mexico City, the Promo video of tha track Harmony Korine, the two trailers, an alternate edition, a Q&A session with Steven Wilson and Lasse Hoile at the international movie première, at the Copenhagen film festival, 6 audio out-takes from the album recording sessions. Subtitles in Spanish, German, English and French (too bad not in Italian). Sound mixed in stereo e 5.1 surround sound. A blooklet of 64 pgg. with pictures by Lasse Hoile and Carl Glover. What could you ask more for € 17.60?