LIVE FROM LORELEY

Filmed at Lorely, Germany live concert on 18 July 1987, this video which originally was released in VHS format is now available in DVD package recently released (2004) by EMI. For me personally, it's a nostalgic concert where Marillion was at its peak after the success of their monumental "Misplaced Childhood" followed with one and half year non- stop and tiring (to the band members and crews) tours. During that long duration tour to promote "misplaced" the band wrote some material for their follow-up album "Clutching At Straws" (1987). This huge concert was performed to promote their new released album "Clutching".

Please discount my five-star rating here as it's so bias, definitely, because I'm an early Marillion's freaks. Actually I had a hard time at the time because some of my prog mates down here criticized me on loving Marillion's music where its music (their view) was not original. I think they're too narrow minded on defining originality. I think if they want originality, they should focus their ears only to Beethoven. There is no such thing truly original in pop music if the definition of originality is as narrow as "because the music of Marillion is like Genesis". So be it. I came back to my belief that music is emotion. And, early Marillion music has terrifically created great emotion for me. It's the center of energy for my day-to-day activities. I definitely cannot lie to myself on this and I'm proud to admit that I'm a great fan of Fish-era Marillion, any album, any single. I have collected all albums, singles, LPs, laser disc, and some live bootlegs as well as recently released 6 CD boxed set "Curtain Call". I remember vividly how everyday I played "Emerald Lies", "Forgotten Sons", "Script", "Fugazi" (to mention a few) while singing together with Fish with me reading the lyrics. No single day without Marillion (period 1983 - 1988). I even completed my engineering study at ITB, Bandung (The Paris van Java) in 1984 "with the heart of Marillion"! Yes, Fugazi was my spirit to complete my thesis.

Watching this DVD last night (I don't know how many times I have seen this live video in different formats) is like a retrospect for me. It recalls back memories of my happy life as an industrial engineering student in Bandung (Script and Fugazi period) and my early career in corporate world (Misplaced Childhood and Clutching At Straws period). Even, a couple of years ago I was asked to review the band and this live performance by our local television here (TPI) who owned the license to broadcast this video for Indonesia. Hosted by the television broadcaster and rocker Micko Atmoko I was proud making comments about the band that I really loved and being broadcasted all over the country. Oh man .. what a memorable experience! Of course not being a celebrity (something uncommon for progger) but being able to express my views about Marillion is "THE" thing. In fact, I had never seen their real live performance, only through videos.

The video starts off with a scenery about the venue - an open air stage around the beach. I like the crowd whom some of them saw the show with all attributes about Marillion including jester make-ups etc. The camera also shot the backstage preparation by the band members and crews / technician. The show did not feature only their latest Clutching material but also other three previous albums. It stars with "Slainthe Mhath" from Clutching at Straws album. The band members played flawlessly. Pete Trewavas, as usual, played his bass guitar with his energetic movements. He did not stand at certain point on stage but he moved around the left side (crowd-view) of the stage. He did some backing vocal in most tracks plus another female backing vocal. Steve Rothery played his guitar calmly with practically no movement around his original standing place. But he played his guitar stunningly. Mark Kelly played his keyboard seriously with practically no smile at all. Ian Moseley with his "Clutching At Straws" T-shirt played his drum set dynamically. I like the variety of toms he used with his set. It's an excellent view when he played these toms during interlude right before "Heart of Lothian". Excellent drumming! Last but not least Fish with his various stage coats (I think about three or four different ones) sung and moved around the stage.

I don't want to give a track by track review on this as all of them are excellent. One thing to notice is that the SIDE A of "Misplaced Childhood" was performed entirely with the exception (big regret!) of lyrical part in "Pseudo Silk Kimono" - only the instrumental cut that leads to smooth entrance to "Kayleigh".

Well, altogether with "Recital of The Script" this video is a WONDERFUL one to have especially for those who love Fish-era Marillion. No doubt, you have to have it even though you have the VHS or laser disc format. I invite all you to write your views about this video at this site. I welcome any "one star" rating as I have to respect others' musical tastes and background. That's progressive man!

Yours Lavenderly,

Gatot Fugaziyanto

This review is dedicated to Marillion's freaks in my country, to list a "few": Bowo Neo, Rachmat Hery, Imam, Tatan Taufik, Agung Surjoatmodjo, Nirarta Samadhi, Wahyu Probowo, Yayuk Prabowo, Wita Lesmana, David Dewata, Oga Zano, Ruly FedEx, Yosafat, Hardiansyah Rizal, Imam Khanafi, Anto Sulistianto, Purwanto Setiadi. We keep sending short messages over cellular phones whenever we're listening to Marillion's music like this one that I received from Purwanto:

"So if you want my address is number one at the end of the bar ." - taken from "Sugar Mice" by Marillion.

And also for progarchives readers whom I knew a great fan too: Tim, Mike and Marc in the USA.

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