BRAVE

Well, here it is, Brave. Marillion's creative peak ( so far ). With the addition of Steve Hogarth in 1988 the band assembled what has become their strongest and longest surviving line-up. This collective remain innovative, but their secret strength lies in their accessibility. Progressive, yet never straying too far from a popular music center. Brave does break this pattern a bit, and is a darker, more brooding journey. The band visit places they have not gone before, and in doing so the musical essence is superseded by the story they have to tell. The great thing about this approach is that it allows the group to relax, and a flow is achieved that unifies the entire piece. It becomes a work of art, rather than just a series of songs strung together. Probably my only negative critical comment, is that sonically Brave could have been improved somewhat, because at times the sound gets cluttered, a bit harsh and brittle. That aside, it is a marvelous experience. Who can listen to the Falling from the Moon section of The Great Escape, and not have tears well up in their eyes ? Splendid and sublime !