Porcupine Tree – Shesmovedon

Great collectable 45 as both songs here are kind of exclusive to this single: The A-side Shesmovedon, one of the most popular songs of their Stupid Dream / Lightbulb Sun era, has the original mix that can only be found here on vinyl (although sadly as the inferior radio edit). The B-side Novak, a beautiful little psychedelic / acoustic instrumental, is one of the rarest tracks in their whole catalogue that was released only twice on physical format, first on this vinyl single and then in 2008 on the rare pre-order bonus CD for the Lightbulb Sun remix.

Sound quality is very good, Shesmovedon sounds really punchy, dynamic and detailed, with crisp, natural sounding drums. I definitely prefer the sound here to the later remixed version on vinyl, it just sounds more vibrant here in my opinion. Too bad they only did vinyl singles during that era and we never got the original mix of the full album on vinyl.

A story set against a backdrop of lies, deception and arranged marriage that echoes a young couple during the last months of their relationship.

So : the narrator had been in a relationship for almost 3 years, on the verge of getting engaged, and he was convinced that his girlfriend had cheated on him with another. She kept lying or withholding details to her parents, friends and the narrator. In the spring, she asked him to make up his mind : leave her or attend her wedding (she did not regret marrying her lover). Suddenly, the narrator chose the first option, thus seeing his couple go up in smoke while they were connected evenly : then, during the summer, he addressed his friends by announcing that his ex-girlfriend had lied to them, while the latter moved on from the town (hence the title) to marry her lover. Their arranged marriage has caused quite a stir.