Richard Barbieri calls Porcupine Tree’s 2022 comeback the best period of his career and hints that a new album could land in 2027.
A Comeback That Hit All the Right Notes
More than twenty years into his run with Porcupine Tree, keyboardist Richard Barbieri is still finding new peaks. Reflecting on the band’s 2022 reunion album Closure/Continuation and its subsequent world tour, in an interview with Innerviews, Barbieri didn’t hold back on just how meaningful the experience was.
“I absolutely loved it,” Barbieri said. “It was probably the best time I’ve had in the music industry. That and the recording of the Quiet Life album are probably my two happiest times.”
The tour itself marked the band’s first live outing in over a decade, and the reception was immediate and overwhelming. “The moment we did the first show in Toronto, we had a standing ovation before we even played a note,” he recalled. “And that set the whole tone for the tour. There was such enthusiasm for the group.”
A Healthier Band Dynamic
Despite being on the road together, the band maintained a surprisingly low-key dynamic. “We didn’t see that much of each other on the tour, but when we did, it was because we wanted to and it was just so nice. It was so comfortable.”
Barbieri also took pride in the record itself, especially following the long gap since The Incident. “I was also happy that we made a really good album,” he said. “I was really glad that we got that out there and that it was different.”
A big shift came from Steven Wilson’s evolving role. “His solo career is so developed and so far along the line now that when he comes back to Porcupine Tree, he just says, ‘Let’s write it together. Let’s make all the decisions together,'” Barbieri explained. “He’s finally reached a point of satisfaction with his own solo career… he can finally find the dividing line there.”
The improved chemistry extends beyond music. “I’m a more pleasant person than I was on those last tours,” Barbieri admitted. “I’ve managed to gain the confidence back from Gavin Harrison and Steven in me as a friend. That’s a really nice feeling.”
Looking Ahead Without Rushing
The band has already dipped its toes into new material. “In terms of recording, we’ve had three or four sessions together where we’ve all brought ideas in and they’ve gone well,” Barbieri said. “We’re trying to find a different sound. We’re trying to make something that is very different.”
The goal is clear. “We also say, ‘How far can we push the limits of the band while still retaining something of the DNA of what it is?'”
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Progress has been steady but scattered. “There’s something that happens when we get together. And it’s very short and it’s very intense. But it seems to be working,” he noted. “It’s very sporadic at the moment because we’ve all been busy with other things.”
As for what comes next, Barbieri is cautiously optimistic. “I think we’d all like to make another album,” he said. “I don’t know about touring. We’d have to see.”
With individual projects in motion, patience will be key. “You’ve got to think a year ahead at least for an album like this,” he explained. “We’re thinking 2027 might be a possibility. We’ll see how it goes, assuming I’m still alive.”
