rockavlon
28-05-2004, 06:46
http://www.marillion.com/images/albums/marbles.jpg
MARILLION – “Marbles” (2CD version)
(Intact/Racket/EMI)
Running Time: CD1: 53:38 CD2: 45:08
MARILLION, are one of the colossal bands in the field of progressive music, in terms of artistic merit, with an illustrious career that spans over 2 decades. What can one really say ? When you thought they had it all, a contract with EMI, hit singles, big tours, fame and fortune, suddenly, Fish walked out on them. Catastrophe. Well not really. Enter H. Enter sensibility and a new found air of freshness. Perhaps it was for the better as the MARILLOS were refreshed, without really loosing their character, staying the same, but different. Meanwhile Fish went solo and released some equally impressive offerings in a folksier style. The band in the meantime released a plethora of impressive albums, ever changing their style but always keeping the quality sky high. Beautiful records like “Brave” and “Afraid of sunlight” have touched so many people, including me, in such a profound way. MARILLION should be massive for all I know. It’s true that they had their heyday, but the quality of the music they ‘re producing has not diminished, so the dip in popularity is completely beyond me. Still most people, when you mention the name of the band will make mental links to “Kayleigh” and Fish. It’s almost like a curse… unavoidable I guess. Enough of history and reminiscence though. Lets go into the now. MARILLION after the quite successful “Anoraknophobia” which tried a bit too hard to be contemporary, (still remember their directives to media people not to call them this and that and the other… ha-ha) return with a truly magnificent album. It really disregards, genres. Heck I will say its progressive rock inclined music, but it’s poppy, it’s melodic, it’s catchy, it’s dreamy, trippy, sensible, intimate, powerful…beautiful. It’s Beautiful music. H’s delicate voice paints pictures of exquisite beauty, moving ever so gracefully through the vast musical landscapes that the rest of the band creates. It’s a journey through the senses, easily their best thing since “Afraid of Sunlight” for me. Let’s take a look shall we? (I will describe the 2 CD edition, which I downloaded – I will buy it as soon as I have the cash, I promise) The first disk kicks off with 'The Invisible Man' an almost 20 minute prog. workout, with subtle hints of PINK FLOYD that really sets the scene. Moody and trippy is just floats around you, haunting you. The first part of Marbles works like a nice little interlude. 'Genie', starts quietly and picks up steam along the way. Powerful prog. Pop. 'Fantastic Place', is more or less a similar affair, a bit more to my liking to be honest, while the more peaceful 'The Only Unforgivable Thing' is more epic in a weird way, with nice guitar overtones. Marbles 2 is a second little interlude, very sweet and evocative and it in avoidably leads us to the magnificent 'Ocean Cloud', or the best reason to pick up the double CD version. It’s the first CDs centerpiece, an 18-minute sweeping epic song that made the hair stand at the back of my neck. Phew. Swapping disks CD numero duo, is quite different. The third part of marbles quietly creeps in, taking us to the funky “The Damage”. One of the finest songs of the album turns up next
'Don't Hurt Yourself', with a heartfelt vocal performance by H. Again you could draw parallels to FLOYD, but the chorus oh, the chorus, it’s a tortured little piece of genius.
Next up is the album’s first single “You’re gone” a groovy, little number with a driving beat, a TOP 10 chorus, (well believe it or not, with a coordinated effort by the band and the fans it charted), think a mix between MARILLION and U2 ! Just brilliant. And not dropping the quality by a notch the band continues with the super radio friendly 'Angelina' (it would make perfect sense to make it the second single lads), ah when you thought it could not get any deeper, here comes a 7 minute angelic rhapsody, a little melodic gem, which also reminded me of DIRE STRAITS a bit. There are some beautiful female backing vocals on this one too. Ah, you got to listen to it. “Drilling holes” is just plainly weird. Ha-ha! It’s followed, by the fourth and last part of “Marbles”. The last song on the record is “Neverland” a 12-minute prog. jam. Based on a very simple idea, it works miracles. I hear echoes of CAMEL and FLOYD again. It’s simple, yet effective, and so beautiful. It’s truly an ideal epilogue to a truly astonishing album. The production is world class and the Artwork is so wickedly beautiful. What can I say? It’s a masterpiece. Log on to the band’s very informative and interactive website at http://www.marillion.com for more information on how to play marbles!!! (And to listen to great music)
5,5/6
gia samples :
http://www.marillion.com/discog/marbles/index.html
MARILLION – “Marbles” (2CD version)
(Intact/Racket/EMI)
Running Time: CD1: 53:38 CD2: 45:08
MARILLION, are one of the colossal bands in the field of progressive music, in terms of artistic merit, with an illustrious career that spans over 2 decades. What can one really say ? When you thought they had it all, a contract with EMI, hit singles, big tours, fame and fortune, suddenly, Fish walked out on them. Catastrophe. Well not really. Enter H. Enter sensibility and a new found air of freshness. Perhaps it was for the better as the MARILLOS were refreshed, without really loosing their character, staying the same, but different. Meanwhile Fish went solo and released some equally impressive offerings in a folksier style. The band in the meantime released a plethora of impressive albums, ever changing their style but always keeping the quality sky high. Beautiful records like “Brave” and “Afraid of sunlight” have touched so many people, including me, in such a profound way. MARILLION should be massive for all I know. It’s true that they had their heyday, but the quality of the music they ‘re producing has not diminished, so the dip in popularity is completely beyond me. Still most people, when you mention the name of the band will make mental links to “Kayleigh” and Fish. It’s almost like a curse… unavoidable I guess. Enough of history and reminiscence though. Lets go into the now. MARILLION after the quite successful “Anoraknophobia” which tried a bit too hard to be contemporary, (still remember their directives to media people not to call them this and that and the other… ha-ha) return with a truly magnificent album. It really disregards, genres. Heck I will say its progressive rock inclined music, but it’s poppy, it’s melodic, it’s catchy, it’s dreamy, trippy, sensible, intimate, powerful…beautiful. It’s Beautiful music. H’s delicate voice paints pictures of exquisite beauty, moving ever so gracefully through the vast musical landscapes that the rest of the band creates. It’s a journey through the senses, easily their best thing since “Afraid of Sunlight” for me. Let’s take a look shall we? (I will describe the 2 CD edition, which I downloaded – I will buy it as soon as I have the cash, I promise) The first disk kicks off with 'The Invisible Man' an almost 20 minute prog. workout, with subtle hints of PINK FLOYD that really sets the scene. Moody and trippy is just floats around you, haunting you. The first part of Marbles works like a nice little interlude. 'Genie', starts quietly and picks up steam along the way. Powerful prog. Pop. 'Fantastic Place', is more or less a similar affair, a bit more to my liking to be honest, while the more peaceful 'The Only Unforgivable Thing' is more epic in a weird way, with nice guitar overtones. Marbles 2 is a second little interlude, very sweet and evocative and it in avoidably leads us to the magnificent 'Ocean Cloud', or the best reason to pick up the double CD version. It’s the first CDs centerpiece, an 18-minute sweeping epic song that made the hair stand at the back of my neck. Phew. Swapping disks CD numero duo, is quite different. The third part of marbles quietly creeps in, taking us to the funky “The Damage”. One of the finest songs of the album turns up next
'Don't Hurt Yourself', with a heartfelt vocal performance by H. Again you could draw parallels to FLOYD, but the chorus oh, the chorus, it’s a tortured little piece of genius.
Next up is the album’s first single “You’re gone” a groovy, little number with a driving beat, a TOP 10 chorus, (well believe it or not, with a coordinated effort by the band and the fans it charted), think a mix between MARILLION and U2 ! Just brilliant. And not dropping the quality by a notch the band continues with the super radio friendly 'Angelina' (it would make perfect sense to make it the second single lads), ah when you thought it could not get any deeper, here comes a 7 minute angelic rhapsody, a little melodic gem, which also reminded me of DIRE STRAITS a bit. There are some beautiful female backing vocals on this one too. Ah, you got to listen to it. “Drilling holes” is just plainly weird. Ha-ha! It’s followed, by the fourth and last part of “Marbles”. The last song on the record is “Neverland” a 12-minute prog. jam. Based on a very simple idea, it works miracles. I hear echoes of CAMEL and FLOYD again. It’s simple, yet effective, and so beautiful. It’s truly an ideal epilogue to a truly astonishing album. The production is world class and the Artwork is so wickedly beautiful. What can I say? It’s a masterpiece. Log on to the band’s very informative and interactive website at http://www.marillion.com for more information on how to play marbles!!! (And to listen to great music)
5,5/6
gia samples :
http://www.marillion.com/discog/marbles/index.html