MISPLACED CHILDHOOD

I still remember when I first heard this album when it first came out and being initially totally blown away by it and even feeling a sense of relief. My favourite Prog band, Genesis had stopped making progressive rock and I was suffering severe withdrawal symptoms. Along come Marillion and that blissful soaring Hackettesque (is that a word?) guitar sound which automatically took me back to the late 70's and albums like Seconds Out.I remember specifically thinking this is what Genesis would have sounded like if they had continued into the 80's as a prog band.Looking back at this album thirty five years later I must admit I view this album a little more objectively.On the surface it ticks all the right boxes; Musicianship - definite tick. Arrangements -tick.Production?-tick. It really sounds great- no argument there.Concept?- well it has one any way so tick.Cover Art? OK not an essential ingredient for a prog album and to be honest it is slightly garish but still -tickMelody.......?Although the playing especially by Steve Rothery is sublime, my real problem with this album is that there is an almost total absence of a decent tune. Kayleigh is the closest but is simply too poppy. Lavender actually has a great melody with a great guitar solo towards the end. But tunes? I know this is PROG not POP but I really crave a nice tune.Even the most intensely progressive rock by Genesis always had a tune bubbling away under the surface,Fish while a highly charismatic and authoritative singer, he ,to put it bluntly, simply cannot or has no desire to create a tune.So That in a nutshell is my problem with this album. It sounds great while I am playing it, as soon as it has finished I am struggling to remember any of the melodies- mainly because of the lack of them.

3 stars