MARILLION

Continuing with the "neo prog" sound that Marillion were notable for, which kept progressive music alive in an 80's music scene that wasn't all too interested in the self-indulgent pomposity the genre was known for, 'Misplaced Childhood' features some of the most melodic songs the band have ever written, and this, along with hit singles 'Kayleigh' and 'Lavender' helped them appeal to a mainstream audience.

Seeing as it's a concept album, the songs all flow together smoothly and effortlessly, requiring multiple listens until individual tracks really start to stand out. It's not all bad though, I mean, don't we prog fans expect that? In fact, the only major detriment to the record is that a lot of the songs are fairly slow-paced. While they're nice to listen to, I feel Marillion's music really comes alive in their more energetic, high-tempo tracks. Not a massive complaint though, mostly me nitpicking.

With some of the most beautiful pieces of music you'll ever hear, including 'Blind Curve', 'Childhoods End', 'White Feather' and the classic 'Kayleigh', as well as more rockier songs such as 'Waterhole (Expresso Bongo)' and 'Lords of the Backstage', it's easy to see why 'Misplaced Childhood' is considered an essential addition to any prog collection.

But this... this is more like it!

Everything here is a step up from its predecessor. The songs are a lot more energetic and infectious, with excellent production giving the music a nice, clean sound, a thumping bass track and great interplay between guitarist Steve Rothery and keyboardist Mark Kelly. And charismatic vocalist Fish gives the band a flamboyant majesty, reminiscent of old Genesis.

'Fugazi' isn't without its faults though. Besides occasionally smelling of 80's cheese, a couple of the songs do lag from time to time, though it's not really a detriment to the overall album, and the stronger tracks more than make up for it. With plenty of nice keyboard leads and catchy duel harmonies, there's a lot of enthusiastic performances that make 'Fugazi' an easy record to listen to from start to finish.

'Assassing', 'Punch and Judy', 'Incubus' and the incredible title track are all highlights that make this release a worthy addition to the collection, and goes to show why Marillion's early albums are held in such high regard by fans.

This is pretty much how I feel about every song on the album.

With the only exception being 'He Knows You Know', which is the only song I like all the way through, it just feels like there aren't any songs that I like from start to finish.

It's my only legit complaint, because otherwise, this would be a fantastic debut album. The passionate guitar playing, the beautiful keyboard melodies, the witty lyrics, it all comes together nicely to give Marillion a fresh and refined sound, that helped revitalize the prog scene in the 1980's.

'Script' isn't a bad album, but I really can't justify giving it more than two stars.

'Fugazi' is the second studio album of Marillion and was released in 1984. In relation to their debut studio album 'Script For A Jester's Tear', 'Fugazi' shows some musical differences. Marillion streamlined the intricacies of group's progressive rock leanings for a more straight ahead rock identity. Still, it remains clearly a Marillion's album. We even can say that, in a certain way, 'Fugazi' remarks Marillion's consistency on its musical direction solidifying the group.

The line up on the album is Derek Dick 'Fish' (vocals), Steve Rothery (guitars), Mark Kelly (keyboards), Pete Trewavas (bass) and Ian Mosley (drums). The album has also the participation of Linda Pyke (backing vocals). This was the first album with the presence of Mosley after the departure of their drummer Mick Pointer to form Arena. The album was produced under difficult circumstances, with the group employing and ejecting several drummers in quick sessions.

'Fugazi' has seven tracks. All songs were written by Fish, Rothery, Trewavas and Kelly, except 'Punch And Judy' that was also written by Jonathan Mover and 'Emerald Lies' and 'Fugazi' which were also written by Mosley. The first track 'Assassing' is a very good song to open the album and became one of the classic songs of the group. This is a very interesting song because it sounds at the same time quite different and yet familiar compared to the songs of their debut studio album 'Script For A Jester's Tear'. It's a very energetic song with a touch of Islamic music, with a beautiful interlude, a good bass line and a very dynamic drumming. This is, in my humble opinion, one of the highlights of the album. The second track 'Punch And Judy' was the song chosen to be released as the first single of this album. The lyrics of the song are a very amusing subject on a married life and are about a marriage that gone bad. It's the shortest track on the album but is for me a very good song. This is a wonderful song although not very typical of their music until now. However, it features everything that's great in Marillion's songs, catchy riffs and melodies and their typical sound so characteristic of Fish's era. The third track 'Jigsaw' it's a bit slow rock song, very nice and I particularly like of it very much. This is probably a song partially obscured by the two previous songs. It's a song about everything in Marillion, their music, their audience and the accusation of being a Genesis' clone, what really bothered them. This is a very sensual song with beautiful lyrics that we want to sing as we take our morning shower and leaves us well prepared to begin our day's work. Definitely, I love this song. The fourth track 'Emerald Lies' is, in my humble opinion, a good song but it's also at the same time weaker than the previous songs. It doesn't represent a truly progression on their music and it even sounds a little bit na've in comparison with the other songs composed by them until now. However, it has a good bass line, great guitar melody, the vocal dynamics are very good and the lyrics are particularly simple and clever. So, it remains a good song. The fifth track 'She Chameleon' is the other weaker song on the album. It's a very simple song with depressing lyrics and with a very simple organ work, a tasteful guitar melody and some bombastic drums. This is still a very decent song but isn't as great as the others are and, in my humble opinion, this song and 'Emerald Lies' brought this album a little bit down. The sixth track 'Incubus' is fortunately the return of the band to the great songs. This is with 'Fugazi' one of the two epic tracks on the album. The theme of the song is about nightmares and has very good lyrics. It's a song with a very strong musical structure with a very melodic musical composition and different tempo. Its music moves dynamically all over the song with smooth musical transitions from one melody to another. This is really a brilliant song. The seventh and last track is the title track 'Fugazi'. This is another brilliant epic track. As with the previous debut studio album 'Script For A Jester's Tear' where the last track 'Forgotten Sons' is considered by many, the best song on the album and one of the best musical compositions made by Marillion too, with this song is the same thing. I completely agree with those who saying that this is a great song. It's a fantastic song with great mood and a melody that changes all over the song. This is, in reality, the ending of a great musical journey made by the group and an incredible way to closing this magnificent album.

Conclusion: Perhaps 'Fugazi' is the weakest album of Marillion in Fish's era. But saying this, it seems like a sacrilege. In reality, Marillion has no weak albums in that period of time, and so, 'Fugazi' is still a great piece of music. As I wrote before and, in my humble opinion, the album has two songs with musical quality below of the others, 'Emerald Lies' and 'She Chameleon'. So, for that motif, 'Fugazi' can't be considered a masterpiece, as happened with their preceding album 'Script For A Jester's Tear' and their following album 'Misplaced Childhood'. But, 'Fugazi' remains without any doubt a great album. 'Fugazi' is an excellent album that can be recommended to all progressive rock fans. Just simply don't compare it too much to the previous one, because there's music here for every progressive rock fan to love.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

In terms of production, the band never sounded better because all instruments are clear and pristine. Maybe the Trewavas's bass could have had a bit more protagonism, but it's ok nevertheless. And It's incredible to check that after 25 years in Marillion, Steve Hogarth's voice is still in top form!

It's a pity that this guy has so an affected and studied pose on stage, because he has one of the best prog-rock voices in my humble opinion. But let's talk about the songs in Sounds That Can't be Made.

Gaza starts the album in an incredible way, achieving of the band's highlights. An impressive song with strong lyrics, heavy guitars and great progression. Together with acts like The Invisible Man and This Strange Engine, Gaza is without a doubt one of the best songs of Hogarth's era. Just a must hearing track for every prog lover.

Sadly Sounds taht Can't be Made can't maintain this quality level with its silly text and boring melodies. Just too repetitive and dull, except for the great guitars towards the end. Pour My Love is a song in the style of the worst tracks in Radiation and Marillion.com. Just forgettable and the lowest moment in the whole album. This trip-hop influences... Just lame.

Luckily the rythmic Power raises our souls with its beautiful keyboards and good Trewavas work, while Montreal is another highlight of the album despite its mundane lyrics. A gift for the fans showing the most variable and prog side of the band. Invisible Ink is a beautiful little song in the vein of the most intimate compositions of Happiness is the Road. Lovely despite (or thank to) it's simplicity.

Lucky Man is solid, but a bit repetitive for my taste despite the powerful Hogarth's singing. The Sky above the rain closes the album brilliantly, with its beautiful lyrics and increasing intensity. It's a song perfect and effective to be played live, but with a too much Hogarth's protagonism. Another little classic from this album!

Conclusion: Sounds that Can't be Made is clearly not one a peak in the band's history, but it's still a very solid release from a veteran band which refuses to live from the past and it's always exploring new paths to expand their music. This album is not so good and surpising like the previous Happiness is the Road, but easily surpases other Marillion's efforths. It has three wonderful songs (maybe four), and the rest is also pretty enjoyable if not memorable with the exception of the forgettable Pour My Love.

Good work, guys!

Best Tracks: Gaza, Montreal, The Sky above the Rain.

My rating: ***1/2, rounded down to three stars.

"Script For A Jester's Tear" is the debut studio album of Marillion and was released in 1983. The album was released after their fantastic EP "Market Square Heroes" with also "Three Boats From The Candy" and on the B side with their great epic "Grendel". The line up on the album is Derek Dick "Fish" (vocals), Steve Rothery (guitars), Mark Kelly (keyboards), Pete Trewavas (bass) and Mick Pointer (drums). Beyond "Market Square Heroes", this is the only album to feature Pointer in the group. He left Marillion to found Arena where he is still their current drummer.

"Script For A Jester's Tear" has six tracks. All songs were written by Fish, Rothery, Trewavas, Pointer and Kelly, except "The Web" which was also written by Brian Jellyman and "He Knows You Know", "Garden Party" and "Forgotten Sons" which were also written by Jellyman and Diz Minnett. The first track is the title track "Script For A Jester's Tear". This is a fantastic song, is a brilliant opener and is also without any doubt a memorable musical moment on the album. It's clearly progressive rock music with a strong melody and sung wonderfully by the magnificent voice of Fish. It's a song that reminds us perfectly, the good old times of the progressive rock music, especially the masterpieces of Genesis in the vein of Gabriel's era. The second track "He Knows You Know" was the song chosen to be Marillion's second single and is a song that tells us about the abuse of drugs, and alludes particularly to intravenous drug use. This is the shortest song on the album but it's still a great track and represents also another great musical moment on the album. It's a very powerful song with powerful lyrics too. The song begins with the guitar followed by Fish's voice and soon the keyboards appear also and then, the song reaches its great musical climax when the drum section enters on the scene. The third track "The Web" is another great song with a beautiful composition and powerful lyrics and is very enjoyable to listen to. Probably it isn't as appealing as the other two previous songs, but it's without any doubt a song that fixes us firmly into the territory of the progressive rock music. This is a very melodic song and it has also a magnificent harmonic musical progression, making of it a truly progressive track. It has also magnificent individual musical performances, especially the fantastic guitar work of Rothery and the magnificent and bombastic keyboard work of Kelly. The fourth track "Garden Party" was another song chosen to be released as a single and it was their third single. This time, the song is a parody of social elitism and snobbery in our society and this is probably the least depressing song on the album. The lyrics are absolutely fantastic, very satiric, and it represents perhaps Fish's best lyrical performance on the entire album. This song reminds me strongly the very personal and unique style of Gabriel in the good old Genesis' times. This is also, in my humble opinion, another great track. The fifth track "Chelsea Monday" is another great song and represents another highest moment on the album. This is one of the simplest tracks on the album but it's still a very powerful song. It became one of the classic songs of the band and it remains, even today, as fresh as it was in those days. This always was one of my favourite songs of the group, very mellow with a very reach musical ambience and with also very deep lyrics that almost make us cry. The musical arrangement of this song is, for my taste, absolutely fantastic. The sixth and last track "Forgotten Sons" represents another highlight of the album and is without any doubt a perfect way to close this incredible musical work. This track represents for many of us the best musical moment on the album. The opening of this song is very powerful and reminds us a group of soldiers marching into their destination, the battlefield. It's also a song with very powerful lyrics and a clear political message. This is, in my humble opinion, one of their greatest pieces of music with absolutely fantastic individual musical performances, culminating with a great guitar solo. This is really a very powerful and overwhelming song, a great close for the album.

Conclusion: It's commonly accepted that "Script For A Jester's Tear" is with "Misplaced Childhood" probably the two best studio albums released by the group in the music era of Fish. It's also true that the opinion of which of these albums is the best, is divided. Both have their supporters. However, and in my humble opinion, "Misplaced Childhood" is a better album because is a more cohesive and well balanced musical work. Still, nobody can't deny the fundamental importance of "Script For A Jester's Tear", in those times, for progressive rock. In a certain way "Script For A Jester's Tear" was as important as "In The Court Of The Crimson King" of King Crimson was for the progressive rock music in the 70's. In the summer of 1982 the punk explosion was gone but remained some echoes, a parade of a new romantic musical movement. So, when the music world seemed to be at the mercy of the new romantics, "Script For A Jester's Tear" represents a landmark and a breath of fresh air that progressive rock music, so needed at the time. We can even say that since "Script For A Jester's Tear" the world of progressive rock has raised again and no longer was the same.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

The album starts with the eight-minute opus 'King of Sunset Town' which is a sprawling and diverse piece of music and lyricism. Thematically similar to earlier works like 'The Web' with high connotations of dejection and moodiness is balanced nicely with segments of fantastical elevation. Keyboardist Mark Kelly is consistent as usual but is now taking full advantage of more modernized keyboard sounds, particularly during the intro section. Guitarist Steve Rothery also shines with usual displays of melodic nuances throughout the track. Indubitably a strong opener and the proggiest track on the album. 'Easter' is an electric- acoustic pop song which was released as a single after its release. The song begins as a gentle acoustic ballad before gradually building up tension into a climactic chorus, which is followed by an extended heartfelt guitar solo which is simulataneously passionate and sedative. The song closes with an upbeat reprise of the main theme with accompanying scat- singing. 'The Uninvited Guest' is another catchy pop song with hard rock elements similar to that of 'Incommunicado' from their previous album Clutching at Straws. 'Seasons End' is the representative track of the album; another eight-minute opus which is very slow throughout. First half of the song is very emotional and dramatic which is chock-full of crashing cymbals, guitar chords and cascading synth pads. The second half takes on a more quirky vibe with Mark Kelly taking centre-stage with polyrhythmic marimba-sounding swirls before the track gradually fades out and closes Side One.

Side Two opens with 'Holloway Girl' which is a fairly slow yet upbeat and catchy song which is led by a pervasive delayed guitar riff. 'Berlin' is the third-longest song on the album which retains true to the album's dramatic and ambient quality, - but not quite as breathtaking as Easter nor nowhere near as progressive and diverse as King of Sunset Town or Seasons End. 'After You' is a gorgeous ballad which is definitely one of my personal favourite for it showcases a sublime vocal performance by Hogarth and the lyrics are very sincere and sweet without sounding too saccharine or sappy. 'Hooks in You' was the leading single from the album and definitely the sole AOR-styled rocker on the album, - although in reflection it doesn't age too well in comparison with the rest of the album. 'The Space...' closes the album with a punch as it enriches the listener with its somber, reflective yet life-affirming quality. Rich in orchestral textures and layering, the six-minute slow epic ends with the universal lyric "Everybody lives and loves and laughs and cries and eats and sleeps and grows and dies.." giving the whole album a very earthy quality.

Overall; - a splendid release at a very difficult time for the group. Inevitably hesitant to stray too far away from their roots yet they clearly had an adamant desire to progress and evolve beyond the sprawling progressive-rock epics of the early 80s into a more balanced and streamlined group with ambient textures. A very solid record, a key release and an essential listen for even the most ardent Fish-era Marillion fanatic.

Since it feels awkward for me to write a review for such heavily reviewed album, I first thought to write one for the 'Kayleigh' single. I'm getting tired of reviewing singles so much, so here's my very subjective view on this famous Neo Prog milestone. I bought it on CD several years later at the early 90's, but it isn't my favourite of the Fish era, that honour goes to Clutching at Straws. And up to this day my reception of Misplaced Childhood is somewhat ambivalent. Like many other prog listeners, I find it a bit cheesy as a whole, with the super-clean production, sugared synth carpets and sentimental guitar solos.

'Pseudo Silk Kimono' is irritatingly all cheesy synths, but it functions as a conceptual mood-setter, followed seamlessly by the radio-friendly song for lost love, 'Kayleigh' (which I have as a ringtone on my phone nowadays!), which is seamlessly followed by another radio-friendly love song, naively romantic 'Lavender'. What is this? A potpourri of pop songs? Luckily, 'Bitter Suite' and 'Heart of Lothian' are multi-part compositions with various moods. I love the quietest, more mystified parts ("A spider wanders aimlessly...", and later, "It's getting late for scribbling and scratching on the paper...") whereas 'Blue Angel' and 'Wide Boy' sections are really cheesy, especially for the guitar solos. On the next album there's a lot more diversity in guitar and keyboard sounds. Is Misplaced Childhood perhaps over-produced in a way, emphasizing the sentimental concept?

The album is practically two side-long, pauseless entities, and that's definitley one of its strengths. The second part (side of the vinyl) contains the ultimate highlight, but there are also songs that feel like fillers to me. 'Waterhole (Expresso Bongo)', terribly boring. 'Lords of the Backstage' is refreshingly bold and bright. 'Blind Curve' is a magnificent journey into deep, sore emotions, and finally there's new blood on guitar parts too. The melody in 'Mylo' is spellbinding, and the creepily quiet section 'Perimeter Walk' gives goose bimples. Unfortunately the 'Threshold' section returns to the cheesiness and the similarily wailing guitar solo by numbers heard on the first side. 'Childhoods End?' is a fine, sunny and powerful catharsis after all the dark emotions the concept album has gone through. The synth solo at its end sounds very Genesis-like. But for me 'White Feather' is a boring anti-climax.

This is definitely an important album, but the certain weaknesses and the overall cheesiness make me round my 3½ stars downwards. This is not to say I wouldn't understand five-star ratings perfectly well!

The oddest aspect of the record is that it seems to be light on the big, anthemic hooks; and tends to be reflective. Not that it's not dynamic; and there are moments when it all kicks in that it has rather a lot of impact, but for a record with such an aggressive title and concept - that I wholeheartedly approve of - it's more brooding than outright angry and that's unexpected. Marillion can still turn up the heat (Gaza proving it), so it seems surprising to see the Rothery going for a more textural role than an in-your-face one. Mark Kelly is terrific throughout and manages to sound very fresh.

I think a bit more repetition might have made this an easier swallow - there's no choruses, in fact, there are lots of sections. Think the Misplaced Childhood structure without the chordal repetition between parts of side 1 and 2. It's perhaps fairer to think of FEAR as a politically charged Tales from Topographic Oceans. Its a meandering, long-form work created of many sections that work to a common end. The opening, El Dorado is very strong, with a Tull-like intro, segueing through a STCBM style part - The Gold - which culminates in a classic Rothery solo that could have come off of Marbles or Afraid of Sunlight. The rest of the track feels reminiscent of Ocean Cloud, with shorter vignettes making up the rest of the song. Notable is the lovely lyric at the end of Grandchildren of Apes; which is beautiful and optimistic.

White Paper and Living in FEAR are shorter tracks that carry the atmosphere between the three epic tracks. The Leavers has some lovely atmosphere but I tend to lose concentration a little during the song. It meanders a little too much. Some lovely keyboards. In the wake of the whole Brexit thing, it's somewhat switched lyrically - the 'leavers' being seeming more progressive people and the 'remainers' being those who wish to remain as they traditionally did. Nothing to do with Marillion, obviously, but heard post July 2016, it seems a bit skewed!

The New Kings does tend to be the saving grace; with the greater sense of urgency. After the whole 'We are the leavers/remainers' lyrics, one kind of wishes for something other than 'we are the new kings' - that said, it is a hook, I suppose. Small gripe, and not worth too much thought.

The piece has a lot of atmosphere and drama, with the greatest dynamic variation provided in a single epic on this record.

I had hoped for a true classic; and it might win me yet. I think a single LP with El Dorado on one side and The New Kings on the other may have been the album I hoped for. Less might have been more after all. Still, on what is presented here, it's good to see Marillion holding their long-form card aloft again and making purposeful music.

Not the best political LP this winter - that crown goes to Anubis' The Second Hand - but it's a very good record in its own right.