BRAVE

Brave is a concept album that represents a return to a more proggy sound for Marillion (following the more rock-oriented Holidays in Eden). There are many reviews in these Archives that discuss the concept subject matter of alienation and suicide but this is not an "in your face" concept. The album can stand alone as a collection of thematically linked songs and I am certain many listeners would not know what the concept was.

In general the tracks have a more varied pace compared to previous outings with a lot of atmospheric interludes that allow some keyboard exploration (missing in Holidays in Eden) that build to faster crescendos. There are some great harder edge moments with great guitar solos and even some guitar/organ interplay which gives a 70's sound to some of the pieces for those of us who remember being there.

One disappointment is that the sound lacks some of the clarity of earlier releases although this may be corrected in the remastered CD (which I do not have) but this is also a production from the 90s when distorted sounds were common place.

50% of Progarchive reviewers have given Brave a 5 star rating. Although good I would not consider this as a 5 star masterpiece and it is definitely not essential. But it has enough good moments to make it an "Excellent addition".

4 stars.