STEVEN WILSON, TO THE BONE

To The Bone, Steven Wilson’s fifth solo album, finds him stepping away from the darker, more sprawling progressive rock of his earlier work to create something more direct, melodic, and song-focused. He has said the record was inspired by the ambitious progressive pop he grew up with, citing artists like Kate Bush, Talk Talk, Peter Gabriel, Prince, Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, and The The as touchstones. For Wilson, pop is not a throwaway term but a broad and artful tradition, the kind of music where accessibility and experimentation can coexist.

Built on that foundation, To The Bone balances lush production with pointed themes, tackling truth, deception, and the fractured state of modern life. Guitars, synths, and layered vocals collide in arrangements that highlight his gift for detail, while the focus on immediacy makes the album one of his most accessible and striking releases.