SEASONS END

The first album after Fish's departure, and still Marillion kept making beautifull music, the new frontman wasn't as dominantly present as Fish used to be, which benefitted the music, which was given more room to develop from tune to tune. Of course Fish was sorely missed on some parts of the music, but Steve Hogarth's style fits the new Marillion sound, it took them some time and two albums before the real Marillion sound was in place. The first two Hogarth albums are devoted to searching their new sound, and with Brave they found it.

The music on Seasons End is a continuation of what marillion was doing starting with Misplaced, a more comercial sound was sought and found, accumulating in some hit-singles (Kayleigh, Lavender, Incommunicado) and on this album that was continued in songs like The Uninvited Guest, Easter and Hooks In You, that kept the interest from the general public, but it turned the old fans away, for that was not what the fans really wanted (though most were proud Marillion made it in the commercial world), it represented a fear of losing the progressive sound in favour of popularity. Luckily Marillion soon refound their progressive roots with Brave, and this album isn't completely lost to pop, for still the musicality and melodicity of the band remained.

Musically Marillion transformed their music to a mix of their previous sound (Clutching at Straws) some Simple Minds/U2 influences with roots in their Irish origin. Hogarths voice took me a while to apreciatte, and still it's to whispering for my liking, but it gives a little dark element that serves the music, as it blends beautifull with the atmosphere, and emotionally Hogarth get's as much under your skin as Fish could get..

Season's End signals the beginning of a new Marillion era, and the music is almost as beautifull as their previous albums, maybe even more beautifull. very good moments to be enjoyed but it sees a further departure from their original style.

Songs like Berlin, Season's End, The King Of Sunste Town, Easter, The Uninvited Guest, The Space and everything else on this album makes this album worth having, maybe Fish is missed, but the new man in the band makes an excellent debut, and this album deserves some recognition.

I like it, though it doesn't compare to Fish era, it comes pretty close.