In Absentia

In Absentia is the seventh studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released on September 24, 2002. It was their first release on a major record label, Lava Records.

Though never announced as such by the members of the band, many consider In Absentia to be a concept album. It is said to be an investigation of the causes of insanity and serial killing told through the story of man from childhood through marriage, as many of the songs can demonstrate.

Steven Wilson is always tight-lipped about the meanings of his lyrics largely because (especially on this album) they are loose and open to interpretation. He has said that he means for the lyrics not only to be understood as part of the album’s concept (serial killers, rapists, child abusers and other “deviants”) but also subjectively, according to what the listener brings and assumes about them. For example, the song “Gravity Eyelids” has lyrics which seem to suggest connection to the album’s concept, but Steven Wilson has also noted that it was written about an “evening by the Dead Sea.” The erotic feel of the lyrics also lend themselves to interpretation as a love song.

Aside from “The Sound of Muzak”, which is clearly a criticism of the modern music industry, and “Wedding Nails”, an instrumental, all of the songs have lyrics that can be linked to the theme.