Porcupine Tree – Signify

The mastering sounds really fantastic, broad spectrum and great soundstage. Very dynamic and when the volume is cranked, this album really cooks. However, therein is the problem, when turned up, the pressing I own is one that isn't Optimal's best...no major issues, but lots of low level surface noise and ticks during the atmospheric parts. Sad really, I just have several Optimal pressings from around 2016-17 that are filled with minor ticks. At least it seems they have gotten their QC back with more recent offerings.

So I ordered this and the latest reprint of Sky Moves Sideways directly from Burning Shed and both came super warped! Surprisingly, my turntable was able to handle it without skipping, but man does it look wobbley! Otherwise, sound quality is ok. Dead quiet vinyl, which is pretty necessary for the atmospheric electronic texturey parts. Packaging is shite -- paper sleeves not poly-lined, jacket is thinner than onionskin. They coulda done better.

I compared this pressing to the 2011 pressing (https://discogs.cinepelis.org/release/2914949-Porcupine-Tree-Signify ) and the result really suprised me: This 2016 remaster has the album spread out on 4 sides and is pressed by Optimal. The 2011 pressing (that has the 2003 remaster) has the album packed on 3 sides (with the fourth side being bonus tracks) and is pressed by the inferior GZ plant. So I was expecting the later pressing to be the obvious winner - it's quite the opposite though!

The only advantage here is that it has less surface noise thanks to Optimal. Apart from that this 2016 remaster sounds a bit lifeless to me compared to the 2011 pressing, less organic and even less dynamic, with a slightly smaller soundstage despite having wider grooves, which is odd. What this pressing adds is quite a bit more low end - but at the expense of a more balanced, detailed sound like the 2011 pressing. Last but not least the 2011 pressing has a much better packaging.

So in my opinion, other than the first pressing (that I haven't heard though) the 2011 pressing is the one to own.

I compared this pressing to a recent 2016 remaster pressing (mine is the 2023 yellow pressing) and the result really suprised me: Later pressings from 2016 onwards have the album spread out on 4 sides instead of 3 and are pressed by Optimal instead of the inferior GZ plant, so I was expecting the later pressing to be the obvious winner - it's quite the opposite though!

To my ears this 2011 pressing sounds more organic, more dynamic, the drums sound a bit more natural and the soundstage is a bit wider. It's even cut a bit hotter, although - once again - it packs the album on less sides! To me the 2016 remaster sounds a bit lifeless in comparison, what it adds is too much low end, at the expense of a more balanced, detailed sound.

The only real advantage of later pressings is the pressing plant: my 2011 GZ pressing has noticably more surface noise than my 2023 Optimal pressing.

Apart from that this 2011 pressing is superior in almost every aspect in my opinion. It adds the 3 bonus tracks on side D, which are available on vinyl only on earlier Signify pressings before the 2016 remaster and on the very expensive Delerium Years boxset. And it propably has the most beautiful packaging of any Signify pressing: Thick gatefold with a textured surface (no other Signify pressing has that to my knowledge) and thick picture inner sleeves.

Finally I also compared the 2004 Headspin pressing, which has the same remaster also pressed by GZ and somehow this 2011 pressing still sounds better to me. So, other than the first pressing (that I haven't heard though) this is the pressing to own in my opinion.

Sound quality: 5/5 stars, very good, nothing to complain about.

The pressing quality: 2/5 stars. I have had 2 copies of this pressing. The first came in PAPER sleeves, despite it says soft plastic here on discogs. Why? No idea. It had long hairline scratches on all sides before i even played it.
On side A there was loud pops every rotation that came and went away 2 times. Very dissapointing right away.
Side B had very loud crackle in start of the first song but then it was fine.
Side C and D sounded good but still had a lot of hairlines.

My opinion: stay away from this pressing And go for an older, or maybe try the yellow colored variant, Maybe its better? If this is the only pressing you can find, well then you can only hope for the best. My second copy of this pressing was free from loud noises, but also came in paper sleeves and had hairlines all over, it didnt look very fresh. It seems the label "transmission" is a very hit and miss, but i have other albums from them that have been perfect, but also really bad. They are inconsistent.

This 16-bit remaster, coming only 10 years after its debut, sounds great. The clarity, dynamics, and mix are perfect. There's no ear daggers or boomy bass to contend with (afterall, this was remastered by the man himself). Stylistically PT was still in their psychedelic period, and this does have a trippy vibe.

Wtf?! No pics? Lazy AF
Seriously not even the cover? 😮‍💨

Sounds fantastic and is definitely well worth its low asking price.

Sounds great. No complaints. Pressed and mastered well. Waiting sounds especially good.

Great pressing! Sound is top notch!!! Everything screams high quality. Recommended!