Sunday Under the Covers: Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
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Artist:
Die hard Pink Floyd fans will say no one could do "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" like the Floyd. Probably true.
The song was representative of a time that can't be relived, and any representation of that time must be accurate. It brings back memories of dark, smoky rooms, and a band's foray into musically projected madness. Much like "Careful With that Axe Eugene," "Set the Controls" creates for the listener a head space akin to "Eugene's" foggy alleyways, where we peek around the next corner to be sure we're safe (and we're not) except we're in deep space. Terror in space a la Alien, with sound track by Pink Floyd.
Or in this case, Porcupine Tree. I've not heard of a cover of this song before, although I'm sure they're out there somewhere. Until I found this quite by accident in a huge folder of Porcupine Tree goodies. Here it is, different enough to be uniquely PT's, and similar enough to the original to evoke review. I like it. Even though it appears my recording got cut off somehow.
Locating MOG account...
Comments (12)
You're all about the PT today, eh? Well, if you're going to get into a band, you could do much worse! Hadn't heard this before . . . still trying to figure out what I think.
I've always thought a Pink Floyd/Yes mash-up would be interesting.
"Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sunrise"
I like this ... disappointed it was cut short.
Oh yeah. I'm feeling it too.
Chuck you know you dig it.
Damn that's some musica interuptus. Ouch. Just when I was starting to get lost.
Oh, I dig it . . . but there are some songs and bands that are hard to hear anything by the original with.
Trying to find the song again and get the whole thing, but it's pretty rare. I'll post it again when I do.
And chuck, it did indeed turn into a PT day.
I like........and that's odd.
nice
been listening to a whole lot of the Tree lately....and as a huge floydhead, this cut is just bliss....thanks for it
Hi, I've just joined because of this post!!!
Thanks for this amazing find. It's weird thou' can't find any info about this track. Must find the full version. But are we sure it's PT (sounds like them)?
There's a group, OSI, that did a cover of this song (on the bonus disc of their Office of Strategic Intelligence, 2003). Steven Wilson played on one of the other tracks.
You make an interesting point Appick. The track was labeled as by Porcupine Tree in my collection, and I believe I've had it since before the OSI CD was released. However, I'll need to give the OSI track a listen. Maybe I've got it labeled wrong. I'll let everyone know when I know.
Sorry, I wasn't saying that it was the OSI track (I listened to the OSI track before posting and it sound's completely different). I just have never seen any reference to PT doing Set the controls live or in the studio. For example PT played Cryogenics a hand full of times (perhaps only in Italy in '96ish) and you can find info about that BUT I CAN'T FIND THE TRACK!!!!!! I'm being finicky aren't I !?!
I wouldn't say you're being finicky. The only reference I have to the possibility of this track being by PT is that it's labeled that way in my collection.
My wife found it many years ago and swears she got it using a P2P program. Which means I may never "refind" it.
Of course, since you're a PT fan, then you know quite well how Mr. Wilson likes to be mysterious about his work. PT's marketing arm is notorious for putting out limited editions of everything, and it appears like they mean it when they say something will never be re-released. Drives me mad, but I'm sure it drives up the sales since true fans can't bear to be without anything they've produced.
So perhaps Set the Controls went that way, who knows? I've been unable to find any reference to them doing the song on the web, but will keep looking. The music itself does have the PT quality and edge to it though, so for the time being, for me it's a PT release/non-release.
I'll try some of the PT forums.
It is annoying the limited editions etc. especially if you arrive late on the band wagon. I missed out on the limited edition of Insurgentes (SW's recent solo album) because I blinked!
I came across a site that had put up links to 19 covers of Set the ... by different artistes. It would have been amusing to listen to them (but the links have been taken down).We could have even compared your song to see if it's on the album!