Porcupine Tree – Stupid Dream

As pointed out by previous reviews, outstanding release in every aspect

Great recording. Quiet, very pronounced instrumentally. If there's any issue at all I'd like to see Kscope ditch the stiff cardboard liners for anything else. I always switch them out for the Mofi liners but even the initial removal of the LP feels sketchy. Still, a really nice album.

I unfortunately got a bad press, half way through the A side it’s crackle city throughout, despite multiple cleaning and static brush both record and stylus. Even tried different stylus, same crackle same spots. Also my C/D came in looking like someone took a screwdriver to the first track. Bad copy got past QC unfortunately. Give it four stars for tracks that played well which was about half. I bet a good press sounds amazing.

I have to agree with those saying that this is a solid pressing. It's quiet, hardly any surface noise, and the dynamics and mastering are pleasant to listen to. Drums are punchy. Quiet segments sound amazing, nice detailed strings on C4. Really I have no complaints. Definitely one of the better non-AAA pressings in my collection.

Inner grooves sound good. I am using a Pro-Ject X1 w/ an Ortofon 2M Blue cart for reference.

I can confirm that this pressing sounds wonderful. Does not sound distorted, as claimed by the person, who is calling this a victim of loudness war.

Please, This is Limited Edition? This is Limited Edition?

Sounds wonderful, definitely not a loudness war victim.

DR13 -0.81 dB -17.39 dB 7:08 01-Even Less
DR13 -1.29 dB -16.23 dB 4:21 02-Piano Lessons
DR8 -10.82 dB -24.75 dB 0:29 03-Stupid Dream
DR11 -2.40 dB -16.68 dB 5:04 04-Pure Narcotic
DR12 -0.77 dB -14.82 dB 4:48 05-Slave Called Shiver
DR13 -2.20 dB -17.89 dB 8:24 06-Don't Hate Me
DR11 -1.08 dB -14.81 dB 3:25 07-This Is No Rehearsal
DR11 -1.82 dB -16.59 dB 3:14 08-Baby Dream In Cellophane
DR11 -0.91 dB -13.98 dB 4:29 09-Stranger By The Minute
DR11 -2.30 dB -18.15 dB 5:21 10-A Smart Kid
DR11 -0.87 dB -14.43 dB 6:34 11-Tinto Brass
DR13 -2.72 dB -19.84 dB 6:50 12-Stop Swimming

I'm a bit disappointed by this remastering.
Being a huge fan of Steven Wilson and his work, the albums he mastered and released on vinyl (including reissues from King Crimson and Jethro Tull) always sounded great overall.
But here, it feels like a Loudness War happened on most tracks.
While the more acoustic and calm tracks (Stop Swimming, Pure Narcotic) sound ok, especially the heavier ones are pretty much distorting.
At first, i thought that it's my turn table which i wanted to exchange anyway. But now even on my "new" Technics SL5 including a brand-new needle, i still get distortions. Well, it's actually a turn table which can handle distortions, especially in the inner grooves, pretty well. Other records started to sound more clean, but Stupid Dream sounds as bad as on my older turn table.

I can't understand it, other SW/PT from before and after don't sound that awful, maybe it's just my pressing and luck.
Sad to say, that i'd rather listen to it digitally at the moment.

About the music itself:
This might be the probably the best "pop" album Steven ever did. You get complex structures and simple tracks at the same time. "Piano Lessons" has got to be the most uplifting thing he ever wrote, beside "Permanating" decades later.
"Stranger By The Minute", "Don't Hate Me" and "Even Less" are so well made, Theo Travis appearance out of nowhere adds to the charme.
Not anymore Psychedelic Rock, but yet the songwriting of earlier albums shine through.

If i would have to recommend a PT album to a friend who doesn't know them yet, i would suggest this album and In Absentia.