MISPLACED CHILDHOOD

"Misplaced Childhood" is the 3rd full-length studio album by UK progressive rock act Marillion. The album was recorded between March 1985 and May 1985 and released through EMI Records in June 1985. It´s the successor to "Fugazi" from 1984. "Misplaced Childhood" proved to be Marillion´s most commercially successful release, and they toured for a full year in support of the album.

As "Fugazi" (1984) didn´t sell quite as well as "Script for a Jester's Tear" (1983), and cost double the money to record and promote (the video for "Assassing", had been exceptionally expense to film) compared to the budget of the debut album, Marillion were under an intense pressure to deliver an album that would be more commercially satisfying to EMI Records. The label booked Hansa Studios in (West) Berlin (the same studio where David Bowie recorded his Berlin album trilogy) and brought in producer Chris Kimsey (Peter Frampton, The Cult, Emerson, Lake & Palmer...etc.), and they lived and worked in Berlin from March to May 1985.

"Misplaced Childhood" is a concept release, dealing with subjects like love, relationships, lost childhood, and life-on-the-road. The atmosphere is often melancholic and the album is drenched in longing for the innocense of childhood. According to interviews with lead vocalist Fish most of the concept was conceived during an hours long acid trip, and maybe therefore the story is a bit fuzzy and not necessarily linear told. The lyrics are obviously very personal and strongly emotional and Fish has a strong voice and a paatos filled delivery, which have great impact on the listener. You can relate to the stories that Fish tells and feel the emotions when he sings about break-ups ("Kayleigh") and being a long way from home (in another country) in a hotel room, when told that someone close to you has died back home ("Mylo"). Fish is a master of conjuring up vivid images of the topics in this lyrics.

The album features two side-long suites, but it´s individual tracks, which seque into each other, rather than two side long tracks. Except for "Bitter Suite" and "Blind Curve", which are both longer tracks (7-9 minutes in length), the tracks on "Misplaced Childhood" all feature more "regular" 2-4 minutes song lengths. Other than "Kayleigh" which was a big hit song, also among non-progressive rock audiences, the album is still very much a progressive rock album. The instrumentation, the theatrical/concept lyrics and vocal performances, and the dynamics of the music, all point in that direction. The instrumental part of the music may not be quite as challenging as on the two preceding album releases, but then again Marillion were never the most complex or technically challenging progressive rock groups. They always favored atmosphere and melody over complex song structures and technical playing.

"Misplaced Childhood" features a warm, detailed, and organic sounding production, which suits the material well. It´s far from the thin and rather odd sounding production of "Fugazi" (1984) (which I personally appreciate, but understand why others don´t). Kimsey definitely worked wonders here and "Misplaced Childhood" is an incredibly well sounding release. Upon conclusion "Misplaced Childhood" is the next logical step in Marillion´s development as a band, and it´s also through and through a high quality release. A 5 star (100%) rating is deserved.