Storm Corrosion (Steven Wilson & Mikael Åkerfeldt) to reissue their debut album on 27th September
A Cult Classic Reborn
Storm Corrosion, the extraordinary collaboration between Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt, is set for a grand reissue of their self-titled album on September 27th, 2024, via Kscope.
Originally released in 2012, this album was a masterpiece that defied genre boundaries, weaving haunting and atmospheric sounds that left listeners spellbound. This new reissue will be available in LP, CD, and Blu-ray formats, featuring a brand new Dolby Atmos remix by Steven Wilson himself. And there’s a special treat – a bonus live recording of “Drag Ropes,” the only song they’ve performed live, captured when Mikael joined Steven on stage at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2015.
Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt are no strangers to pushing the envelope in contemporary progressive music. Their collaboration as Storm Corrosion resulted in an album that is both hauntingly beautiful and intriguingly unsettling.
Available in
Orange & Purple Vinyl 2LP: Gatefold packaging with an 8-page booklet, including the live recording of “Drag Ropes” from Royal Albert Hall.
Yellow Vinyl 2LP: Same packaging and bonus track as the orange & purple edition.
Black Vinyl 2LP: Same packaging and bonus track as the other vinyl editions.
Blu-ray Edition: Includes high-resolution stereo, 2024 Dolby Atmos, and 5.1 DTS-HD surround audio mixes. Also features instrumental mixes, a mini album documentary, the promo video for “Drag Ropes,” two demo versions, and the live recording of “Drag Ropes” from 2015.
CD Digipak: Comes with an 8-page booklet and includes the live recording of “Drag Ropes” from the Royal Albert Hall.
Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt have always been at the forefront of experimental music. “Storm Corrosion” was their artistic playground where no idea was too wild. As Steven recalls, “Part of what made it so much fun was that pretty much anything that either of us suggested, the other would agree it should definitely be pursued, no matter how crazy and off the wall it sounded.”
Mikael Åkerfeldt shares this sentiment, highlighting the album’s experimental nature as one of the most bizarre yet satisfying projects he has ever worked on. “Storm Corrosion is the exception. It’s such a lovely record to me. I can distance myself from my own work on it and just experience it as a fan of its music. Everything about this record is strange in the best way possible.”
The album was born out of a week-long session in Steven’s studio in 2011, where the duo set out to create something entirely original. The result was a blend of psychedelic chamber folk music with orchestral arrangements and dissonant elements, all wrapped up in a child-like whimsy.
“Storm Corrosion” pays homage to the esoteric sounds of late 60s and early 70s German groups like Tangerine Dream and Popol Vuh, mixed with the folk influences of British legends like Nick Drake and Bert Jansch. It’s an album that takes listeners on a transcendental journey, echoing the eclectic oddities of cult figures like Scott Walker.
This reissue is a timely celebration of an album that has garnered a cult following over the years. As Steven puts it, “In many ways it has become the cult classic we always intended it to be.”
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
