HAPPINESS IS THE ROAD

I had high hopes for this album after the rather disappointing Somewhere Else. There are some wonderful highlights across the 2 CD's but honestly, this could have been a brilliant single album rather than an average double. I believe that Marillion function best when Steve Hogarth isn't allowed to dominate the output and sadly, there are too many self-indulgent pieces on here, particularly The Man from Planet Marzipan, which Hogarth amazingly describes as one of their strongest ever songs.

Amongst this, there are moments of sublime quality, these being Asylum Satellite #1, which really is one of the best ever Hogarth-era songs and This Train Is My Life. Too much of Steve Rothery's guitar playing is low-key on the album. Sorry, but I expect a few sublime soaring solos from Marillion and these aren't delivered here. Long term fans like myself will of course purchase the album, but it left me wishing for a few tracks less and not more for once. 3 stars is a fair review for me.