Incredible Expanding Mindfuck
Encyclopedia
Incredible Expanding Mindfuck, also known as I.E.M., was a musical project by Steven Wilson
(the leader of British rock band Porcupine Tree
). Its work is mainly influenced by Krautrock
and experimental music from the 1960s and 1970s.
Wilson's work with I.E.M. is in part a continuation of the experimental psychedelic sound which he initially mastered with Porcupine Tree before steering the band towards a more mainstream rock direction with the Stupid Dream
album. He has also cited "the cosmic jazz of artists like Sun Ra
" as an influence on the music.
I.E.M.'s work is more experimental in nature than that of Porcupine Tree, and is almost entirely instrumental. Almost all instruments on I.E.M. recordings are played by Wilson (although other contributors have included former Bark Psychosis
drummer Mark Simnett).
The first I.E.M release was a self-titled album
on Porcupine Tree's original record label Delerium Records
in 1996. It was followed by a limited-edition single called An Escalator to Christmas
. Further releases have occasionally followed, with little fanfare or direct promotion.
I.E.M.'s most recent release of entirely new music was in 2001 (although 2005's compilation album I.E.M. 1996-1999 included some previously unreleased material). The project has increasingly taken a back seat to Wilson's other projects, most notably to Porcupine Tree
, Blackfield
and Bass Communion
, but also to No-Man
and to Wilson's recent solo release Insurgentes
(which itself contains developments of some of the ideas Wilson has previously explored with I.E.M.).
A 4 CD boxset featuring I.E.M., An Escalator to Christmas, Arcadia Son and I.E.M. Have Come for Your Children was released on ToneFloat records in June 2010. Limited to 2,000 copies, the boxset is described as "both an homage and a final farewell to I.E.M." Each CD is packaged in its own Japanese-style mini LP sleeve within a hardback slipcase box. It also includes a 60-page booklet designed by Carl Glover.
Steven Wilson
Steven John Wilson is an English musician, best known as the founder, lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
(the leader of British rock band Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
). Its work is mainly influenced by Krautrock
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
and experimental music from the 1960s and 1970s.
Background and history
I.E.M. is seldom discussed in any depth by Wilson in interviews and the album packaging provides very little information. The name "Incredible Expanding Mindfuck" is an in-joke referring to early Porcupine Tree promotional material (in which Porcupine Tree was given an entirely fictional 1970s history and in which the Incredible Expanding Mindfuck was mentioned as a related project).Wilson's work with I.E.M. is in part a continuation of the experimental psychedelic sound which he initially mastered with Porcupine Tree before steering the band towards a more mainstream rock direction with the Stupid Dream
Stupid Dream
Stupid Dream is the fifth studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released in March 1999. It became the band's best selling album up to the time of its release....
album. He has also cited "the cosmic jazz of artists like Sun Ra
Sun Ra
Sun Ra was a prolific jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, poet and philosopher known for his "cosmic philosophy," musical compositions and performances. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama...
" as an influence on the music.
I.E.M.'s work is more experimental in nature than that of Porcupine Tree, and is almost entirely instrumental. Almost all instruments on I.E.M. recordings are played by Wilson (although other contributors have included former Bark Psychosis
Bark Psychosis
Bark Psychosis are an English post-rock band/musical project from east London formed in 1986. They were one of the bands that Simon Reynolds cited when coining "post-rock" as a musical style in 1994, and are thus considered one of the key bands defining the genre...
drummer Mark Simnett).
The first I.E.M release was a self-titled album
I.E.M. (album)
I.E.M. is the debut album of Steven Wilson's side project, Incredible Expanding Mindfuck. The original 1996 vinyl edition on Chromatic Records was limited to 500 copies...
on Porcupine Tree's original record label Delerium Records
Delerium Records
Delerium Records was a UK record label, that specialised in psychedelic music which ran from 1991 to 2003, and was notable in promoting the careers of bands including Porcupine Tree, Ozric Tentacles, Kava Kava, Mandragora, Sons of Selina and Moom and for starting the Freak Emporium and Molten...
in 1996. It was followed by a limited-edition single called An Escalator to Christmas
An Escalator to Christmas
An Escalator to Christmas is an EP by Steven Wilson's side project, the Incredible Expanding Mindfuck. It was released on vinyl only as a limited edition of 500 copies in 5 different colours - yellow, blue, green, red and black....
. Further releases have occasionally followed, with little fanfare or direct promotion.
I.E.M.'s most recent release of entirely new music was in 2001 (although 2005's compilation album I.E.M. 1996-1999 included some previously unreleased material). The project has increasingly taken a back seat to Wilson's other projects, most notably to Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree
Porcupine Tree is a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorise, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven...
, Blackfield
Blackfield
Blackfield is a collaboratory musical group between Porcupine Tree founder and lead singer Steven Wilson and Israeli rock singer Aviv Geffen.-Formation, self-titled debut :...
and Bass Communion
Bass Communion
Bass Communion is a side project of Steven Wilson, best known for his lead role in the rock band Porcupine Tree. Records released under the name "Bass Communion" are in an ambient or electronic vein - lengthy drone-heavy compositions...
, but also to No-Man
No-Man
No-Man are a British art-pop duo formed in 1987 as No Man Is An Island by singer Tim Bowness and multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson . The band has so far produced six studio albums and a number of singles/outtakes collections...
and to Wilson's recent solo release Insurgentes
Insurgentes (album)
Insurgentes is the title of the first full-length solo album released by British musician and record producer Steven Wilson, known for being the founder and frontman in psychedelic/progressive rock band Porcupine Tree...
(which itself contains developments of some of the ideas Wilson has previously explored with I.E.M.).
A 4 CD boxset featuring I.E.M., An Escalator to Christmas, Arcadia Son and I.E.M. Have Come for Your Children was released on ToneFloat records in June 2010. Limited to 2,000 copies, the boxset is described as "both an homage and a final farewell to I.E.M." Each CD is packaged in its own Japanese-style mini LP sleeve within a hardback slipcase box. It also includes a 60-page booklet designed by Carl Glover.
Discography
- 1996 - I.E.M.I.E.M. (album)I.E.M. is the debut album of Steven Wilson's side project, Incredible Expanding Mindfuck. The original 1996 vinyl edition on Chromatic Records was limited to 500 copies...
- 1999 - An Escalator to ChristmasAn Escalator to ChristmasAn Escalator to Christmas is an EP by Steven Wilson's side project, the Incredible Expanding Mindfuck. It was released on vinyl only as a limited edition of 500 copies in 5 different colours - yellow, blue, green, red and black....
- 2001 - Arcadia SonArcadia SonArcadia Son is the second album from Steven Wilson's side project, Incredible Expanding Mindfuck. The original vinyl edition was limited to 500 copies and released in May 2001 on the Gates of Dawn record label...
- 2001 - I.E.M. Have Come for Your ChildrenHave Come for Your ChildrenI.E.M. Have Come for Your Children is the third album from Steven Wilson's side project, Incredible Expanding Mindfuck. It was released on CD in 2001 on the Headphone Dust label...
- 2005 - I.E.M. 1996-1999
- 2010 - Complete I.E.M.