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 (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.