"The Sky Moves Sideways" is an album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree. It was initially released in 1995, marking their third studio album. The work represents one of the band's first major homages to the prog-rock era of the 1970s, drawing significant influence from renowned artists like Pink Floyd.
The music on this album is a blend of space rock, ambient electronica, and psychedelia which overall gives a truly cosmic feel, earning it a reputation as Porcupine Tree's "space rock" album. It featured two multi-section suites - "The Sky Moves Sideways (Phase One)" and "The Sky Moves Sideways (Phase Two)" - sandwiching a run of discrete songs.
At its release, the album was lauded for its compositional grandeur and expansive soundscapes. The lineup on this album included frontman Steven Wilson, Richard Barbieri on keyboards and electronics, Colin Edwin on bass, and Chris Maitland on drums, marking the creation of the band's long-standing lineup.
"The Sky Moves Sideways" was a critical turning point in Porcupine Tree's musical journey, marking a shift away from their earlier, more intimate sound to a grander, more cinematic scope, thus shaping the band's future evolution.Overall, the album remains a well-revered piece of the Porcupine Tree discography among fans and critics alike.
