MISPLACED CHILDHOOD

When it comes to "Misplaced Childhood", the first thing that comes to my mind is "beautiful soundscapes" and, because usually rated highest amongst old-time fans of Marillion as well as the one album that is best known to a wider audience, it's got the Aura of a "must have", a masterpiece. For a long time, I must admit, all I knew from it were the major single-hits, and I liked them - not loved them. When I finally bought the Album I had become a Marillion-Fan mainly because of "Brave" and "Seasons end", and I gave it several fair spins, but it failed to really attract me as much as "Script" or "Real to Reel" did, no matter how well all the pieces fit together.

I found it pleasant but overestimated by its success, imaginative but slick. It's somehow too beautiful. Though far from being lifeless, it's very well constructed and performed but - perhaps for the sake of success - the drama ( great lyrics once again ) gets drowned in colors that reveal great care and craftsmanship but are all to obvious and fail to surprise because... somehow they've really all been there before.

This is perhaps the best you can get out of a "Genesis-clone" and therefore it's no wonder that millions fell in love with it, but for me it's not enough, just a decent effort at climbing a mountain that had been conquered before. But, sorry, that admirable masterpiece for which they should be remembered forever - "Misplaced childhood" is not. I can truly understand that, afterwards, tensions grew because Fish felt the need to open those great musicians ( all ! ) to new influences, and it may be the biggest tragedy that he failed where his successor finally came to succeed. Maybe he did not try it in a sensitive enough way ?

No matter. It's a beautiful album, still, and for at least one more ( and, imo, better one ) the "big man" was able to help that band develop further, bring out a little more passion and set the stage for what was to come ( and what I am so deeply in love with ). Besides, it's always been a "danger" for perfectionists like Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley to somehow die in the beauty of the soundscapes they are able to create. This album is, in too many places, an example. And, after "Real to Reel", a bit of a disappointment...

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