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Elly Roberts reviews
Intact Records
- April 2007
- Rating: 4/10
Formed in Buckinghamshire and originally named after Tolkiens novel Silmarillion, they reached their peak of popularity in the ’80s as Marillion.
They were part of the second generation of Prog Rock in the ’80s, who becameknown for their dramatic Art-Rock presentations on disc and in concert, thenled by Scottish singer Derek William Dick aka Fish, who left the band in 1988.
As they carried the Prog torch, they were often compared to Genesis becauseFish emulated ex-Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel, by wearing face paint.Marillion had some impressive commercial singles including Kayleigh, Lavender(both 1985) and Incommunicado (1987). Thereafter, they never reachedthe Top Ten, though singles continued to roll out, along with regular albums,only one hitting the top spot Misplaced Childhood in 1985.
Fish was replaced by Steve Hogarth in 1988 and remains their frontman andco-writer.
Opening with a flourish and gusto, The Other Half, floats at a steadypace rising into soaring guitar solos as the keys provide the ambientbackground eventually dropping down to tinkling ivories. Again a flourishintroduces See It Like A Baby with Hogarths vocals getting plenty ofreverb as it ambles into a lightweight beat which precursors more, solos byRothery. These two, are ok, but fail to impress at any level.
A lifeless Thank You Whoever.. follows, and again doesnt impress, ashard as they try. Crunching Most Toys raises the pulses, but isa nothing track. For most of the way, and end, No Such Thing, soundsmore like some kind of filler. Stadium rocker The Wound, drops andrises with equal power, but, again has no real purpose.
At long last, something to behold a ballad, The Last Century For Manis simply stunning which sways neatly, though Hogarths vocals occasionallysound uncertain. Closing on an acoustic rambler, Faith, it seals asoulless effort, despite Hogarths sweet singing.
Marillion need to go back to the drawing board, because, finding somethingreally inspirational is non-existent. Bring back some pomp, for goodness sake.
One of the dullest albums Ive ever encountered.
Weblink:marillion.com/web
The full list of tracks included are :
1. The Other Half
2. See It Like A Baby
3. Thank You, Whoever You Are
4. Most Toys
5. Somewhere Else
6. A Voice From The Past
7. No Such Thing
8. The Wound
9. The Last Century Man
10. Faith
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.