WITH FRIENDS FROM THE ORCHESTRA

Marillion released this 2LP of live versions (without an audience) of some of their finest post-Fish material with additional orchestrations in 2019. It seems it went under the radar here on the archives. The band has released a concert with the same type of orchestrations and additional musicians in 2018 "Live at The Albert Hall'. 'With Friends from the Orchestra' shows the band playing a supplementary tracklist that has epics like 'This Strange Engine', 'The Sky Above The Rain', 'Seasons End' and 'Ocean Cloud'. The set has little emphasis on the rockin' side of the band, though in the second halve of the album the guitars of Steve Rothery become more outspoken. The singing of Steve Hogarth is impeccable, his voice is always full of expression and tonal quality. Unlike other rock with symphony albums the arrangements differ little form the original album versions. Throughout the record the band casts its unique adult melancholy haze and one might argue that a more varied emotional pallet would've made the record more engaging. Yet this is what Marillion does best, so there's that. To me it sounds beautiful, very professional and very well produced. The quality of the double vinyl is very good. For me personally this is a keeper, but I doubt that I will buy another record of Marillion (already own F.E.A.R.) of this era. Furthermore, I would like to point out that my favorite Steve Hogarth record remains 'Colours Not Found in Nature' with Isildurs Bane.