Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree: A Definitive Guide
Some albums define a generation. Few dissect it with the precision of Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree. Released in 2007, this record captured the anxieties of modern youth, the perils of technology, and the struggles of mental health. It arrived at a time when music, society, and technology were colliding in ways never seen before. I find it a fascinating study in both musical ambition and social commentary. In this article, I’ll guide you through every detail of its creation, recording, themes, and legacy.
Expect a thorough exploration: from the album’s genesis and recording process, to its chart performance, reviews, and influence. I’ll examine each track, discuss the lyrics and meaning, and explain how Porcupine Tree promoted the album worldwide. I’ll also cover its critical reception, legacy, and the events of 2007 that shaped its impact. If you want to understand Fear of a Blank Planet in all its depth, you’re in the right place.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Album title | Fear of a Blank Planet |
| Release date | 16 April 2007 (UK/Europe), 24 April 2007 (US) |
| Genre | Progressive rock, art rock, alternative rock |
| Total runtime | 50:48 (CD/remastered vinyl) |
| Number of tracks | 6 |
| Record label | Roadrunner Records (Europe), Atlantic Records (US), WHD (Japan), WEA (Canada) |
| Recording studio | No Man’s Land (Steven Wilson’s home studio), Monkey Puzzle Studios (Suffolk), other remote studios for guest parts |
| Producer(s) | Porcupine Tree (self-produced) |
Fear of a Blank Planet stands as Porcupine Tree’s best-selling album before The Incident in 2009, with around 250,000 copies sold worldwide. It won “Album of the Year” at the 2007 Classic Rock magazine awards and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album. Drummer Gavin Harrison received Modern Drummer magazine’s Best Progressive Drummer award for his work here. As Steven Wilson put it, “I wanted to make a record that really said something about the times we’re living in. I think we did that.”
Richard Barbieri, keyboardist, added, “We tried to capture the confusion and isolation of modern youth, but also the beauty in the chaos.” King Crimson’s Robert Fripp, who guested on the album, said, “Porcupine Tree are one of the few bands who understand the value of space and tension.” Fear of a Blank Planet is more than an album; it’s a cultural artefact, a mirror to the early 21st century.
The Genesis of “Fear of a Blank Planet”
To understand how Fear of a Blank Planet came to be, you need to picture the mid-2000s. The world was shifting: social media was rising, smartphones were on the horizon, and mental health issues among young people were coming into focus. Porcupine Tree, already respected for their sharp observations and musical ambition, were at a creative crossroads. Their previous album, Deadwing, had introduced a heavier, more metal-influenced sound. Yet, Steven Wilson and his bandmates wanted to push further, both musically and lyrically.
Writing for the album began in early 2006, with Wilson working in Tel Aviv while recording Blackfield’s second album. The band regrouped in London that summer. By then, Porcupine Tree had solidified their lineup: Steven Wilson (vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards), Richard Barbieri (keyboards, synthesizers), Colin Edwin (bass), and Gavin Harrison (drums). They were joined on this album by special guests: Alex Lifeson of Rush (guitar solo on “Anesthetize”) and Robert Fripp of King Crimson (soundscapes on “Way Out of Here”). John Wesley provided backing vocals, and the London Session Orchestra added strings.
Porcupine Tree financed the album themselves, using income from their growing back catalogue and live performances. The budget, while not on the scale of major label pop acts, allowed them to record in both home and professional studios. Steven Wilson produced and mixed the album, maintaining tight creative control. The album’s title is a play on Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet, but with the focus shifted to the “blankness” and numbness of youth in the digital age. The concept drew inspiration from Bret Easton Ellis’s novel Lunar Park, especially the character of Robby, an eleven-year-old boy adrift in technology and broken family life. The artwork, created by Lasse Hoile, reflects this: a solitary, haunted boy against a blue, washed-out background, embodying the album’s themes of alienation and sensory overload.
The band members and their roles in making the album are shown below:
| Band Member | Instrument(s) and Role |
|---|---|
| Steven Wilson | Vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, mixing, audio mastering, string arrangements, producer |
| Richard Barbieri | Keyboards, synthesizers, sound design |
| Colin Edwin | Bass guitars |
| Gavin Harrison | Drums, percussion |
| Alex Lifeson (guest) | Guitar solo on “Anesthetize” |
| Robert Fripp (guest) | Soundscapes on “Way Out of Here”, lead guitar on “Nil Recurring” (EP) |
| John Wesley | Backing vocals |
| London Session Orchestra | Strings |
Steven Wilson described the concept as “a snapshot of a teenager in the early 21st century, lost in prescription drugs, the internet, and the collapse of family.” The album’s artwork was designed by Lasse Hoile, whose eerie, cinematic photography became synonymous with Porcupine Tree’s visual identity. Hoile’s images capture the emptiness and tension that run through the record.
Recording Process
The recording of Fear of a Blank Planet began in earnest in July 2006, with the band using both Steven Wilson’s home studio (No Man’s Land) and Monkey Puzzle Studios in Suffolk. Wilson’s home setup was software-based, running Logic TDM on a G5 Mac, with outboard gear kept to a minimum. He preferred this approach for its flexibility and familiarity, stating, “I know exactly what I’m hearing in that room, which is more important than having expensive gear.”
Wilson handled most vocals and acoustic guitars himself, often keeping the original demo takes for their emotional immediacy. Electric guitars and drums were recorded in professional studios: John Wesley tracked guitar amps in Florida, while Gavin Harrison recorded drums in his acoustically treated home studio. The band favoured layering and multitracking to achieve the album’s dense sound, especially for guitars. For “Anesthetize,” Alex Lifeson recorded his solo remotely in Canada, sending the files to Wilson for integration. Robert Fripp contributed his trademark soundscapes for “Way Out of Here,” also recorded remotely. The final mixes were done by Wilson, who also mastered the album after rejecting an external mastering job that was, in his words, “too compressed.”
The hardware and techniques used in the studio are detailed below. Where information is not explicit, I have based assumptions on the known studio setups at the time:
| Equipment/Technique | Details/Usage |
|---|---|
| Microphones | Neumann U87 (vocals), Shure SM58, Neumann 414 (guitars) |
| Preamps/A-D | Apogee Trak 2 |
| Software/DAW | Logic TDM on G5 Mac, Pro Tools, Focusrite D2 EQ, D3 compressor, Bomb Factory compressor, Line 6 Echo Farm |
| Guitars | PRS Custom 22, PRS Singlecut, Gibson Les Paul, ESP Stratocaster (with humbucker) |
| Amps/Cabs | Bad Cat Hot Cat, Diezel head, Marshall 4×12 Celestion Greenback cab |
| Effects | Line 6 POD (for demos), Digidesign D-Fi plugins, Lo Fi (digital distortion), Focusrite compressors |
| Drums | Recorded in Gavin Harrison’s home studio, with years of mic experimentation and acoustic treatment |
| String arrangements | Steven Wilson and Dave Stewart |
One interesting anecdote: Steven Wilson often kept his first vocal takes, saying, “I feel the emotional connection strongest when I’m first laying down the idea.” The band’s approach to production was hands-on and meticulous. They used minimal compression and favoured digital tools for flexibility. The only external engineer credited is Steve Price, who assisted with technical aspects.
Porcupine Tree self-produced the album, continuing their tradition of creative independence. Wilson had previously produced and mixed all their records, as well as remixes for artists like King Crimson and Opeth. No other producers were involved, so there is no table of other albums produced by external producers for this record.
Commercial Performance and Reception
Upon release, Fear of a Blank Planet quickly became Porcupine Tree’s most successful album to date. It debuted at number 59 on the US Billboard 200 and number 31 in the UK. It reached the top 40 in several European countries, including Germany (21), the Netherlands (13), Finland (16), Norway (34), Sweden (38), and Poland (16). The album topped the Billboard Top Internet Albums chart at number 3 and reached number 17 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart. Worldwide, it sold approximately 250,000 copies. The limited special edition of 10,000 copies sold out on the first day. Critics praised its conceptual ambition and musicianship, with Q magazine calling it “dramatic, expertly executed, and thrilling.” AllMusic awarded it 4.5/5, and Rolling Stone’s David Fricke compared the band to Rush, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Tool.
The following table lists Porcupine Tree’s studio albums, their release years, and the producer for each. Fear of a Blank Planet is highlighted:
| Album Title | Year | Producer |
|---|---|---|
| On the Sunday of Life… | 1992 | Steven Wilson |
| Up the Downstair | 1993 | Steven Wilson |
| The Sky Moves Sideways | 1995 | Steven Wilson |
| Signify | 1996 | Steven Wilson |
| Stupid Dream | 1999 | Steven Wilson |
| Lightbulb Sun | 2000 | Steven Wilson |
| In Absentia | 2002 | Steven Wilson |
| Deadwing | 2005 | Steven Wilson |
| Fear of a Blank Planet | 2007 | Porcupine Tree |
| The Incident | 2009 | Porcupine Tree |
| Closure/Continuation | 2022 | Porcupine Tree |
Fear of a Blank Planet received numerous awards and accolades. It won “Album of the Year” at the 2007 Classic Rock magazine awards. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album. PopMatters named it the best progressive rock album of the 2000s. In 2014, Rhythm magazine readers voted it the fifth greatest drumming album in progressive rock history. Loudwire ranked it #27 in the Top 100 Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Albums of the 21st Century. Rolling Stone listed it as the 39th best progressive rock album of all time.
Other major albums released in 2007 by similar artists included:
- In Rainbows by Radiohead
- Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem
- Icky Thump by The White Stripes
- Era Vulgaris by Queens of the Stone Age
- Systematic Chaos by Dream Theater
- Colors by Between the Buried and Me
- Frames by Oceansize
Other important events in heavy music during 2007 included the formation of bands such as Animals as Leaders, Archspire, and Haken. Notable reformations included Rage Against the Machine and Extreme. There were also major releases from Megadeth (United Abominations), Nightwish (Dark Passion Play), and Ozzy Osbourne (Black Rain).
Track Analysis
Singles from Fear of a Blank Planet included “Fear of a Blank Planet” and “Way Out of Here.” Both were released in 2007, with “Fear of a Blank Planet” appearing as a bonus on the US iTunes release of Blackfield II and “Way Out of Here” receiving radio play and a music video. The album itself is a continuous suite, designed to be listened to in one sitting, with tracks flowing seamlessly into each other.
The following table lists every song from the album, their lengths, and writing credits. Singles are marked with an asterisk:
| Track Name | Length (mm:ss) | Writing Credit |
|---|---|---|
| Fear of a Blank Planet* | 7:28 | Steven Wilson |
| My Ashes | 5:07 | Richard Barbieri, Steven Wilson |
| Anesthetize | 17:42 | Steven Wilson |
| Sentimental | 5:26 | Steven Wilson |
| Way Out of Here* | 7:37 | Richard Barbieri, Colin Edwin, Gavin Harrison, Steven Wilson |
| Sleep Together | 7:28 | Steven Wilson |
Note: “Fear of a Blank Planet” and “Way Out of Here” were released as singles. There is no chart data for the singles themselves, but both received significant airplay and remain fan favourites.
Song Meaning and Lyrics
The lyrics of Fear of a Blank Planet are unflinching in their depiction of modern youth. The title track opens with “Sunlight coming through the haze / No gaps in the blind / To let it inside.” The song describes a teenager’s boredom, reliance on prescription drugs, and obsession with screens: “X-Box is a god to me / A finger on the switch / My mother is a bitch / My father gave up ever trying to talk to me.” Steven Wilson wrote most of the lyrics, drawing directly from Bret Easton Ellis’s Lunar Park. The themes of bipolar disorder, ADD, and alienation are central throughout the album.
“Way Out of Here” explores the desire to escape, with lines like “Out at the train tracks / I dream of escape / But a song comes onto my iPod / And I realise it’s getting late.” The song’s repeated refrain, “Way out, way out of here / Fade out, fade out, vanish,” expresses the urge to disappear from a world that feels overwhelming. The songwriting credits for this track are shared by all four band members, showing the collaborative spirit behind the music. Robert Fripp’s soundscapes add a sense of unease and space.
“Anesthetize” is a seventeen-minute epic, with guest guitar solo by Alex Lifeson. The lyrics describe numbness and emotional shutdown: “Only apathy from the pills in me / It’s all in me, all in you / Electric fences and guns.” “Sentimental” and “Sleep Together” continue the themes of detachment and longing for connection. Throughout, the band’s use of repeated phrases and motifs ties the album together as a true concept work.
Touring and Promotion of Fear of a Blank Planet
Porcupine Tree supported Fear of a Blank Planet with a massive world tour, starting on 18 April 2007 in Glasgow. The band played 92 shows that year, covering Europe, North America, Mexico, and, for the first time, Australia and Russia. Notable festival appearances included Hurricane Festival, Southside Festival (Germany), Download Festival (Donington Park), Voodoo Music Experience (New Orleans), and Ilosaarirock Festival (Finland). The band often played the album in full, accompanied by video projections from Lasse Hoile. Support acts on the tour included Pure Reason Revolution, Amplifier, Absynthe Minded, 3, Head>>Fake, Anathema, and Hidria Spacefolk.
Promotion for the album included 5.1 surround sound listening parties at Legacy Studios in New York and Abbey Road Studios in London. A medley was posted on MySpace, and a microsite was launched to engage fans. The title track was released as a digital single, and “Sentimental” was featured as NPR’s Song of the Day. A video for “Way Out of Here” was created by Lasse Hoile. The band’s relentless touring and creative marketing helped drive the album’s success.
The tour’s European leg ended with a filmed performance at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Netherlands, later released as the Anesthetize DVD. In 2008, Porcupine Tree played Australia for the first time, appearing in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Festival highlights included Pinkpop (Netherlands), Rocksound (Switzerland), Nova Rock (Austria), Hellfest (France), and Ruisrock (Finland). The band’s live reputation grew, with Music Radar ranking them among the best live acts in the world.
Influences and Legacy
Porcupine Tree’s influences on Fear of a Blank Planet were wide-ranging. Steven Wilson cited Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and modern metal bands such as Meshuggah as key inspirations. The album’s continuous structure and conceptual depth echo classic 1970s progressive rock, while the heavy guitar tones reflect a more contemporary metal edge. The band’s lyrical focus on technology and mental health set them apart from many of their peers.
The table below shows some of the artists and genres that influenced the album, and artists who have since cited Fear of a Blank Planet as an influence:
| Influences on “Fear of a Blank Planet” | Artists Influenced by “Fear of a Blank Planet” |
|---|---|
| Pink Floyd (progressive rock) | Katatonia |
| King Crimson (art rock, soundscapes) | Haken |
| Meshuggah (modern metal) | Gorguts |
| Bret Easton Ellis (literature) | Seven Lions (electronic) |
| 1970s concept albums | Countless progressive metal and alternative bands |
2007 was a year of cultural change. The iPhone was launched, transforming how people interacted with technology. Social media exploded. In film, The Sopranos ended its run, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows broke sales records. In the UK, the smoking ban came into force in public places, and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann made headlines. In music, bands like Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem, and The White Stripes released genre-defining albums. Heavy music saw the formation of new bands such as Animals as Leaders and the return of Rage Against the Machine. The events of 2007 shaped the context in which Fear of a Blank Planet was both created and received.
Five Things About Fear of a Blank Planet
Even if you know the album well, these five facts might surprise you. Each is drawn from reliable sources and verified across multiple references.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Grammy Nomination | The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album in 2007. |
| Alex Lifeson’s Contribution | Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson recorded his solo for “Anesthetize” remotely in Canada and sent it to Steven Wilson. |
| Conceptual Inspiration | The album’s lyrics and concept were heavily influenced by Bret Easton Ellis’s novel “Lunar Park.” |
| Limited Edition Sold Out Instantly | The special edition (10,000 copies) sold out on the day of release. |
| Chart Success | The album debuted at number 59 on the US Billboard 200 and number 31 in the UK, a first for the band. |
Media and Television Usage
Porcupine Tree’s music has been used in several TV shows and films. For Fear of a Blank Planet, “My Ashes” was featured in the US TV series The Shield (season 7, episode 6, “Animal Control,” aired 7 October 2008). “Sentimental” and “Fear of a Blank Planet” are also listed on music licensing platforms for sync placements, but no further major TV or film appearances have been confirmed for this album’s tracks.
| Song Title | Media Appearance | Year |
|---|---|---|
| My Ashes | The Shield (S7, E6, “Animal Control”) | 2008 |
Other tracks from the album have not been widely used in mainstream media according to current databases.
Critical Reviews and Retrospectives
Critics greeted Fear of a Blank Planet with enthusiasm. The album holds a Metacritic score of 82/100 from nine reviews, reflecting “universal acclaim.” Q magazine called it “dramatic, expertly executed, and thrilling.” AllMusic praised its conceptual ambition, saying, “There are no radio singles here, but every song is provocative.” Rolling Stone’s David Fricke compared Porcupine Tree to Rush, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Tool, noting the band’s ability to “shift moods and textures effortlessly.” PopMatters ranked it the best progressive rock album of the 2000s. Rhythm magazine’s readers voted it one of the greatest drumming albums in prog history.
Retrospective reviews have only grown more positive. The album is seen as a landmark in both Porcupine Tree’s discography and the wider progressive rock scene. It is frequently cited as an influence by younger bands and is considered a modern classic.
After Fear of a Blank Planet
After the release of Fear of a Blank Planet, Porcupine Tree continued to grow in popularity. Their next album, The Incident (2009), reached the Top 25 in both the UK and US charts and was nominated for another Grammy. However, following the tour for The Incident, the band entered a long hiatus. Steven Wilson focused on his solo career, releasing acclaimed albums such as Grace for Drowning and The Raven That Refused to Sing. Other members pursued their own projects. In 2022, Porcupine Tree reunited for the album Closure/Continuation, featuring Wilson, Barbieri, and Harrison. As of April 2025, the band remains active, with a deluxe edition of Fear of a Blank Planet released in October 2024 and live shows announced in Europe and the UK.
Remasters and Reissues
A deluxe edition of Fear of a Blank Planet was released on 25 October 2024. This edition is aimed at both long-time fans and new listeners, offering the most complete collection of material related to the album. It includes remastered audio, bonus tracks from the Nil Recurring EP, and expanded packaging. Earlier reissues included a special edition with 5.1 surround mixes, a double LP vinyl with the Nil Recurring EP, and a DVD-A edition with high-resolution audio and video content directed by Lasse Hoile.
| Edition | Format | Release Date | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Edition | CD, Vinyl, Digital | 25 October 2024 | Remastered album, bonus tracks, expanded booklet |
| Special Edition | 2CD (stereo + 5.1), booklet | 2007 | Stereo and 5.1 mixes, 40-page booklet, limited to 10,000 copies |
| Vinyl Edition | 2LP (standard and limited marbled), 16-page booklet | 2007/2008 | Includes Nil Recurring EP, pink vinyl for Pinkpop festival |
| DVD-A Edition | DVD-Audio | 2007 | 5.1 surround, stereo, video content by Lasse Hoile |
Each edition has offered fans a chance to experience the album in new ways, with improved sound quality and expanded content.
Conclusion
Fear of a Blank Planet remains a touchstone for progressive and alternative rock. Its themes of alienation, technology, and mental health are even more relevant today. The album’s mix of heavy riffs, atmospheric textures, and unflinching lyrics set a new standard for concept albums in the 21st century. Porcupine Tree’s willingness to tackle difficult subjects and experiment with sound has ensured the album’s enduring influence. With the 2024 deluxe edition and recent live shows, Fear of a Blank Planet continues to attract new listeners and inspire established fans alike.
Further Reading
If you enjoyed this deep dive, you might also like our other articles and podcasts about classic albums and artists:
- Radiohead – see our blog on OK Computer
- Pink Floyd – see our blog on Dark Side of the Moon
- King Crimson – see our blog on In the Court of the Crimson King
- Opeth – see our review of Blood Dynasty by Arch Enemy for more on progressive metal
Official sources:
Let us know in the comments what your thoughts are on Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree. Did we miss anything? Share your experiences and join the conversation!
