LESS IS MORE

'Less Is More' is an acoustic album from Marillion, released on 2 October 2009. It contains rearranged songs dating back to 1989 as well as a previously unreleased song entitled "It's Not Your Fault" and a hidden live track, "Cannibal Surf Babe." Marillion have performed numerous acoustic live sets long before the release of 'Less Is More,' including 'Live at the Walls' (1998) and the concert DVD 'A Piss-Up In a Brewery' (2002). Perhaps the positive reception of their acoustic gigs galvanized Marillion to release an acoustic studio album. The less-is-more approach to these arrangements does not only apply to the stripped down instrumentation, but also the duration of the songs. Each song on 'Less Is More' are shorter than their studio counterparts. Marillion started incorporating more percussion instruments on the previous album, 'Happiness Is the Road,' and they continue that on 'Less Is More.' The diverse, timbral palette that is utilized on 'Less Is More' makes it stand out in their discography.

Before I heard a note of 'Less Is More,' I was surprised and simultaneously disappointed after contemplating the bizarre tracklist. Of all the reinterpretations included on 'Less Is More,' there are no songs from 'Marbles' or 'Somewhere Else,' and only one song was taken from 'Happiness Is the Road.' I find it odd that Marillion chose to omit all songs, with the exception of one, from their three previous albums. Especially considering that there are three songs from 'Anoraknophobia' included on 'Less Is More,' and that it one of my least favorite Marillion albums. Typically, when a notable band does an acoustic album like this, they choose songs that are fan favorites. It's safe to say that Marillion did not use this method, which in some ways I respect.

The first two tracks of 'Less Is More' are "Go!" and "Interior Lulu," which are both taken from 'Marillion.com.' 'Marillion.com' is my least favorite Marillion album. Nevertheless, I was curious to see what changes the band would make to the arrangements of these two songs, especially the latter. I actually enjoy the track "Go!" as it is. The 'Less Is More' version of "Go!" is arranged as a lullaby, though the difference between this and the original version are not drastic. "Interior Lulu" is one of my least favorite epics, let alone songs, from Marillion. Unfortunately, this new version hasn't changed my mind of the song.

"Out of This World" (from 'Afraid of Sunlight') is probably in my top three Marillion songs. While the 'Less Is More' version is good, it doesn't enhance my enjoyment of the song. Many elements of what made the original version of "Out of This World" exquisite isn't captured here. The ragtime feel of "The Space" (from 'Seasons End') is performed on 'Less Is More' similarly to the performance on 'Live at the Walls.' I was curious to hear Marillion's interpretation of "Hard as Love" (from 'Brave') as that is a heavy rock song. The 'Less Is More' version is in a major key, making it sound happy. If you know the album 'Brave' and the lyrics of "Hard as Love" in particular, it's strange to hear the juxtaposition of the accompaniment and the lyrics.

The next two tracks were taken from 2001s 'Anoraknophobia.' The new chord progression of "Quartz" completely changes the vibe of the song from how Marillion fans are used to hearing it. Especially during the rap, which is melancholic and significantly slower than the original. The new version of "If My Heart Were a Ball It Would Roll Uphill" is jazzy, which is a genre Marillion tend to stray away from, but I think it works in this context. The unreleased song, "It's Not Your Fault," features just piano and Steve Hogarth's vocals. The chord progression is sorrowful. Unfortunately, "It's Not Your Fault" is my least favorite song on the album. I find it to be uninspired.

"Memory of Water" (from 'This Strange Engine') has a folk element due to the interwoven, arpeggiated acoustic guitars. I wish that Marillion utilized more of this style with the other songs on 'Less Is More.' This may be my favorite rendition of the whole album for its sheer beauty. "This Is the 21st Century" (from 'Anoraknophobia') underwent a massive transformation from the original version, which was dependent on Steve Rothery's electric guitar pedal effects and Ian Mosley's modern-sounding drumbeat. Now, 'Less Is More' allows the listener to hear the essence of "This Is the 21st Century" without all the fancy ornamentation. The chorus inventively switches from a simple meter to a compound meter in this version. The final hidden track, "Cannibal Surf Babe," ends the album on an enthusiastic note and works well as an acoustic piece.

In conclusion, 'Less Is More' is a good album to put on as background music, but not an album that I would attentively listen to. The music is dull. However, that seemed to be intentional. Most songs of the tracklist don't augment my enjoyment of the original versions of these songs, nor do they provide anything new. That's why I don't return to this album frequently.