Stranger Inside

From the pioneering days of Japan to the progressive soundscapes of Porcupine Tree, Richard Barbieri has continually redefined the boundaries of electronic music. With this new 2024 edition of Stranger Inside, Barbieri revisits a unique and fascinating chapter in his career, showcasing his groundbreaking synthesiser work and mastery of composition.

Following the success of his 2005 debut album Things Buried, Barbieri delved deeper into a world of intricate textures, harmonic complexity, and rhythmic innovation with 2008's Stranger Inside. Entirely self-written and produced, this album is a testament to Barbieri's visionary approach to sound design.

It features a stellar lineup of collaborators, including longtime partners Steve Jansen (mixing/co-arranging), Steven Wilson (mastering), Gavin Harrison (drums), and the iconic double bassist Danny Thompson. The album also introduces radical and atmospheric manipulations of sampled voices, namely Tim Bowness and Suzanne Barbieri's, to provide an ethereal dimension to its primarily instrumental core.

Richard Barbieri's illustrious career began as a founding member of the influential new-wave band Japan, where his revolutionary synth work helped shape the sound of an era. The success of albums like Tin Drum in 1981, which remained in the UK charts for an entire year, solidified Japan's place in music history.

After Japan disbanded at the height of their fame in 1983, Barbieri continued to break new ground, creating the Medium record label in 1993 with fellow ex-Japan members Steve Jansen and Mick Karn before taking his place in Steven Wilson's legendary progressive outfit Porcupine Tree shortly after. Porcupine Tree garnered multiple Grammy nominations and achieved worldwide acclaim, cementing their status as one of rock's most revered bands with landmark albums such as In Absentia, Deadwing, and most recently, 2022's Closure/Continuation.

This 2024 edition of Stranger Inside is presented on black vinyl as part of a double LP package.