NEW TO VINYL RELEASE OF THE 'VARIANTS' SERIES FROM THE JAPAN AND PORCUPINE TREE KEYBOARDIST INCLUDING LIVE RECORDINGS FROM THE 'PLANETS + PERSONA' CONCERTS AND NEW MATERIAL In 2017, Richard Barbieri released his most sonically expansive work to date. 'Planets + Persona' is his third solo album, but the first to feature such a wide pallet of instrumentation. Vintage analogue synthesisers combined with acoustic performances and jazz elements, including some stark and memorable improvisations from a personally hand-picked group of musicians, a release that has been well received by a dedicated and growing fan base. 'Variants.1+2' is the first 2LP to be released in a series presenting a collection of disparate pieces of music from past and current works. It features live performances with guest musicians, new compositions, improvisations and reworkings of older material including a 2009 instrumental version of the Japan B-Side "The Experience Of Swimming". As an ex-founder of the new-wave pioneers Japan, Barbieri was a leader in creating the ground-breaking synthesiser sound that defined the band and influenced the likes of The Human League, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, Talk Talk and a whole raft of artists to follow. Together, the band recorded five studio albums culminating in the ground-breaking 'Tin Drum', which stayed in the UK Albums Chart for a year. Following Japan, Barbieri joined Steven Wilson in the formative years of the legendary progressive outfit Porcupine Tree, playing keyboards on all the band's albums since 1993 as well as releasing two striking solo albums: 'Things Buried' and 'Stranger Inside'. His ear for composing unique soundscapes and synth textures recently led to collaborations with other talented composers, such as Steve Hogarth (Marillion) Steve Jansen & Mick Karn (Japan) and Steven Wilson. Presented on 180g heavyweight vinyl in a gatefold sleeve and features a new live photo print.