Porcupine Tree – Up The Downstair

The 2005 and 2008 pressings of this album are of interest for Porcupine Tree collector's, because they are the most affordable vinyl releases where you get the Staircase Infinities EP, plus the bonus track "Phantoms". The only other options are the standalone release of the EP itself from 1994 (without "Phantoms") and the expensive Delerium Years box set from 2017. I have copies of both 2005 and 2008 pressings of Up the Downstars, so here's my comparison:

Both have the same 2005 remaster and are pressed by GZ, but have different cuts. The sound quality is quite the same on both, nothing outstanding, but solid. Good low end, but lacking some mid range and clarity and the soundstage could be a bit more open. I didn't hear a later pressing from 2017 onwards yet, where the main album is spread across 4 sides instead of 2, maybe this improves the sound. Those pressings don't add the Staircase Infinities EP anymore of course.

A pressing issue both copies share is a quite prominent inner groove distortion on the last track of each side, which is a pity especially for "Fadeaway", the best song here in my opinion. Apart from that the pressing quality isn't the same, my 2005 copy is mostly clean and quiet, while this one has quite a lot of ticks. Of course it's possible I have just bad luck with my copy and there's also a black vinyl version from the 2008 run, so maybe that will also do.

The 2005 and 2008 pressings of this album are of interest for Porcupine Tree collector's, because they are the most affordable vinyl releases where you get the Staircase Infinities EP, plus the bonus track "Phantoms". The only other options are the standalone release of the EP itself from 1994 (without "Phantoms") and the expensive Delerium Years box set from 2017. I have copies of both 2005 and 2008 (red vinyl) pressings of Up the Downstars, so here's my comparison:

Both have the same 2005 remaster and are pressed by GZ, but have different cuts. The sound quality is quite the same on both, nothing outstanding, but solid. Good low end, but lacking some mid range and clarity and the soundstage could be a bit more open. I didn't hear a later pressing from 2017 onwards yet, where the main album is spread across 4 sides instead of 2, maybe this improves the sound. Those pressings don't add the Staircase Infinities EP anymore of course.

A pressing issue both copies share is a quite prominent inner groove distortion on the last track of each side, which is a pity especially for "Fadeaway", the best song here in my opinion. Apart from that the pressing quality isn't the same, this pressing is mostly clean and quiet, while my 2008 copy has quite a lot of ticks. I also prefer the more simple design of the inner sleeves here to the 2008 pressing.

This 24-bit remaster, coming 23 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 phase, and this does have that trippy / spacey vibe.

Too bad Steven has re-recorded this and has wiped out the original with the drum machine. This is just wrong.

Although I own a later pressing with superior sound quality (and using a real drum as opposed to a drum machine), this will be the version I reach for 9 times out of 10. I simply can't understand why it was reissued on 2LPs - 7 minutes of music on side C!? - no thanks. This edition still sounds fantastic and doesn't require constant flipping. And, knowing it has a different mix to all later versions makes it all the more worthwhile owning to me.

Just trying to ask a question. What is meant by the album being a “misprint?” Thank you.

[email protected]

Zero surface noise until side D when there was a little bit of quiet crackle during the quiet parts. Sounds great and the mastering is well-done.

A lot of surface noise on this pressing even after cleaning a couple of times.

There's something rather 'deluxe' looking about these digi-book releases. I think they're great.

Amazing pressing, sounds really good, dynamic, clean and clear, 100%