“I’ve learned to completely let go and say, ‘That’s different… but let’s go with it!’” The Pineapple Thief are one of UK prog’s leading lights – Bruce Soord explains how they crossed the Rubicon with Porcupine Tree’s drummer

Bruce Soord of the Pineapple Thief onstage in Italy, playing a single-cut electric guitar.

It’s been decades since Bruce Soord was the sole creative force behind veteran prog project the Pineapple Thief, yet the Yeovil, UK-based guitarist/vocalist is quick to note that It Leads to This – their 15th full-length – is far and away the most collaborative effort yet. 

In recent years, Soord would shoot out tracks to a pool of players, who would add ideas piecemeal; this time around, he drove out to drummer Gavin Harrison (also of Porcupine Tree)’s home studio to employ “old-school writing techniques” – ie, by jamming things out together.