“Is there anything you’d like to hear?” It’s a simple question, asked by countless musicians over the years. But when Steven Wilson posed it at Birmingham Symphony Hall a few years ago, one fan’s request prompted a typically sharp response: “So you want me to play an obscure B-side that only you know to 2,000 people?”
And that, right there, is why reviewing progressive rock can be a daunting task. I love prog. I paid for my ticket that night, just like I will when Wilson tours in May. But I’m not an aficionado. I don’t know every outtake, every nuance, every shifting time signature. And in a genre where die-hard fans dissect every note, it’s easy to feel like a philistine.
Which brings us to The Overview.
Two tracks—if you can even call them that. “Passages” might be more accurate. Over 40 minutes of music. This might be the most prog thing Wilson has ever done. Even the press materials call it “brave” and “audacious.” And they’re not wrong.
“Objects Outlive Us” begins with a haunting, fragile opening that unfolds like a short film. Sparse piano notes shimmer, while the lyrics carry a quiet beauty. The track builds, layering clever vocal interplay and surges of near-metal guitar, before suddenly giving way to another ghostly passage that drifts by like a distant memory. And if you think that’s ambitious, wait until the title track—a “mere” pop song at 18 minutes. Barren, electronic, and dystopian—until it’s not. Wilson takes us on a journey through time and space, with cascading mandolin carrying us from one galaxy to the next, and saxophone signaling our arrival in another.
Originally conceived as a solo project, The Overview has expanded over time, now enriched by not just a band, but XTC’s Andy Partridge, whose sparse yet crucial lyrics add another layer of intrigue. But ultimately, an overview is no way to do The Overview justice. Only through repeated listens and deep dives into its intricate details will it truly reveal itself.
Rating: 8/10
REVIEW: STEVEN WILSON – THE OVERVIEW (2025)
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