February 21st, 2021 - Everything's Nice... But THE FUTURE BITES™

 

"And now for something completely different..."  Hello and happy Sunday!  The Meista here today chilling with another great pairing... a tasty brew from the fine folks at Ogden River Brewing Company, the Everything Nice Cinnamon Vanilla Porter and Steven Wilson's latest album "THE FUTURE BITES™"! 

Album Info: 

• Artist: Steven Wilson
• Title: "The Future Bites" (stylized as THE FUTURE BITES™")
• Recorded: early 2020 in London, England
  Release date: January 29th, 2021 (6th full-length solo studio album by Steven Wilson)
• Record company: Caroline International 
• Production: Steven Wilson and David Kosten
• Album cover art: Andrew Hobbs (photography) and Simon Moore (art direction) 
• Personnel: Steven Wilson (vocals, guitars, keyboards, sampler, bass, percussion, and programming)
• Additional musicians: Richard Barbieri (synthesizers on "Self"), Nick Beggs (bass guitar on "Personal Shopper" and stick on "Eminent Sleaze", Jason Cooper (cymbals and percussion on "King Ghost"), Fyfe Dangerfield (backing vocals), Jack Flanagan (backing vocals on "12 Things I Forgot"), Bobbie Gordon (backing vocals), Wendy Harriott (backing vocals), Blaine Harrison (backing vocals on "12 Things I Forgot"), Adam Holzman (keyboards on "Eminent Sleaze" and "Follower"), Elton John (spoken word on "Personal Shopper"), David Kosten (programming, synthesizers, drums on "Count of Unease"), Michael Spearman (drums and percussion), Crystal Williams (backing vocals), Rotem Wilson (backing vocals), and The London Session Orchestra on "Eminent Sleaze"
• Musical style: Pop-rock, synth pop, art rock, electronica, progressive rock 
• Sound: Embracing and expanding on the synth-pop and electronic elements from his previous album "To The Bone", with "THE FUTURE BITES™" Wilson proves once again that his artistic vision and musical prowess cannot be contained in one genre, or sub-genre for that matter.  Diehard Porcupine Tree fans may struggle a bit with the pop focus, but will hopefully find comfort in the subject matter and experimental approach.  I know I certainly do!.
• Major themes: Exploring two major themes: identity and technology, songs on the album are about excessive consumerism, corporate greed, the concept of the "self", self-deception,  isolation, perception, the varies masks we wear to fool one another and ourselves, the decline of civilization, post-apocalyptic dystopian future, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Unself"
2. "Self"
3. "King Ghost"
4. "12 Things I Forgot"
5. "Eminent Sleaze"
6. "Man Of The People"
7. "Personal Shopper"
8. "Follower"
9. "Count Of Unease"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden River Brewing (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://ogdenriverbrewing.com/
• Brew: Everything Nice Cinnamon Vanilla Porter
• Style: Porter
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Everything Nice pours a deep, dark brown hue (almost ink black) with a firm, light mocha, 1-finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a nice blend of  sweet, spicy, earthy, bready, and malty aromas.  There are notes of cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean, light clove, barley, hearty bread, light coffee, oak, coca, and burnt toffee.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Ogden River Everything Nice is earthy, roasty, sweet, and spicy.  There are notes of freshly ground cinnamon, vanilla, dark roasted coffee, cocoa, a hint of dark chocolate, a hint of liquid smoke, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full in body with lower carbonation, the mouthfeel is velvety smooth with a very dry, slightly sweet, slightly spicy finish.

Overall pairing: Wonderfully flavorful and very drinkable, the Ogden River Everything Nice Cinnamon Vanilla Porter is the perfect beer to toss back on a mellow Sunday afternoon with the fantastic and artistic pop stylings of Steven Wilson's "THE FUTURE BITES™!  I also like the idea that the cinnamon/vanilla element of the brew seems a little "self"-indulgent!  'Nuff said!!

Cheers!!