SCRIPT FOR A JESTER'S TEAR

This band was my hero! Yeah .. I still remember sometime in 1983 when I did my engineering study, the world was flooded by abundant punk and new wave kind of music. Major prog bands were heading toward that direction as well. I was so disappointed with Genesis "abacab" and Yes "90125". Nope! Don't get me wrong . I'm not saying that their music were terrible. I just could not believe these pioneers of 70's music who had laid solid foundation in the history of prog music had finally changed their direction and get commercialized themselves. Well, it's their call. Who was I, anyway? I was just a listener of great prog music. Yet, as their fanatic fans and loyal customer, I had to admit that, deep inside myself, I felt that I reserve the right to choose my musical taste. So then I did not praise their music anymore. Especially having heard Genesis "Who Dunnit" or "Keep it Dark" uuugh ..! Something is happening in my stomach. I would vomit I guess .???!!!

In the midst of searching an excellent music that really fits my taste and feeling, I was frustrated with what was happening in music industry during that dark year of prog music circa early 80's. It ended until one afternoon when my friend played me an LP of a band which I never heard before .. Marillion. What sort of name? ( I was not into any of novel or book and I was not aware at all about Tolkien or Silmarillion). "So here I am once more!" Yeaaahh .. The opening voice really kicked me and their music really blew my mind! Yup! This is the kind of music that I've always wanted. I was really hooked to this LP that afternoon and I could not afford to put my stereo set off. I listened to this album (disc one of the re-master series, off course) continuously for 3 hours in front of my stereo set!! I kept repeating when it hit "Forgotten Sons", the closing track of this terrific album.

Even though it's clear that Marillion music is in the vein of Gabriel era of Genesis but I never considered this band as a copy cat. They just played the music that they'd like to play. Their music is even darker than Genesis. One thing that I rate highly about this album is the melody and music composition are top class! The opening track "Script for a Jester's Tear" sets the whole tone of the album. It clears the path to true progressive music with strong melody that touches your heart. The opening voice of Fish on vocals with a background of simple piano sound by Mark Kelly has started to touch your heart with its crisp melody. Listen the keyboard part after Fish sings " ..abandoning the relics in playground of yesterday ..." yyeeaaahh . so nice piece of music segment that Mark Kelly plays on his keyboard. But hold on .. that has not reached the true orgasm of this track because the band then brings you to a reallu uplifting music when the drum part starts to roll "The game is over!" really kicks! The music then flows naturally with every segment of music gives nice touch on melody part. The guitar part at interlude is performed nicely by Steve Rothery. The second track is the song about drugs. It has a powerful tone opened with guitar touch and Fish voice "He Knows You Know" followed by keyboard soun, and reaches its climax when the drum section enters the scene. So powerful! This is a kind of song you would like to wake you up in the morning. "Problems! Problems!". One thing noticeable about this track, beside its upbeat rhythm, was the closing section that ends nicely with Fish tiny voice "Don't give me your problems!" - "bang!" followed by intro part of next track "The Web". It flows beautifully in this part!

"The Web" was the first task for Fish to write a lyric for the band, during audition period of being the band's new vocals. He did it very well. I enjoy this track very much especially its powerful lyric (about rubber plant) and beautiful composition. "I realize I hold the key to freedom but I cannot let my life be ruled by threads ." is the piece that I memorize on top of my head since I heard it the first time. It was then followed by steve's solo guitar. Very nice.

The fourth track is "Garden Party" that later became the band's and audience favorite's for live performance. This track once became a "radio hit" in Bandung, the city in Indonesia where I heard Marillion the first time; a well-known FM station aired this track several times.

Now enters the slower music of this album "Chelsea Monday". Again, the band offers a nice melody with a memorable guitar tone in the interlude part. Now .. you would realize that Steve Rothery plays his guitar with Hackett's style.

The closing track is my favorite, "Forgotten Sons". "This is dedicated to all those who fell on a pavement outside Harrods last Christmas." (Intro Forgotten Sons - Real To Reel, their first live album). Harrods is an exclusive shop in Knightsbridge, London. On December 17, 1983, an IRA bomb exploded, killing six and wounding many others. This track is opened by radio tuning sound that includes bit of "Market Square Heroes" (from their previous release of EP) followed by "Armalite! Streetlight!" voice of Fish. The opening is so powerful. It brings a nuance of a group of soldiers that marches into their destination, war field! I love the part in the middle when Fish sings like reading a poet .."Your mother sits on the edge of the world when the camera starts to roll .. etc.". The guitar rhythm as a background is very nice piece. Actually, I love all tracks in this album. But if I'm forced to choose the best one is this track. It's damn powerful, my friend! "Peace on earth and mercy mild. Mother Brown has lost her child. Just another forgotten sons!" Yeeaaaahh ....

On disc 2, you can find 3 tracks from Marillion's EP prior to their debut album "Script". Those 3 tracks are excellent: "Grendel" which was inspired by a book by John Gardner. This track is also my favorite. Some people commented that this is a clone of Genesis "Supper's Ready". So be it. I don't care. What I really care is that I love this track very much. .. "Three Boats Down from a Candy" is also a nice track, with great melody - of course. Bravo Marillion Fish era!Keep on Progging ...!

Progressively yours,

Gatot Widayanto, Indonesia.

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