As I see no mention to date, is it really true that no Frostie* whatsover attended the recent Marillion UK tour or have heard (and wish to comment upon) the new album ''Sounds That Can't Be Made''??
I was at The HMV Forum gig on Sunday last and, apart from the added bonus of DeeExpus as support - who were utterly marvellous!, I was completely blown away!! Despite hearing the new pieces for the first time (apart from 'Power' which is readily available), the sound quality for a live gig was, without doubt the best I have experienced in a small venue. Every word of the lyrics perfectly heard alongside the musical extravganza accomponiment from Steve, Mark, Pete and Ian.
As a complete aside - sound wise, it was on a par with the Greg Lake concert at The Stevenage Leisure Centre which I attended a few years ago and which was filmed for the 'GL Live' DVD - thorougly recommended BTW. We talked to the sound engineer that night as we couldn't believe how he did what he did!!
That said, having now downloaded the HMV Forum Marillion concert which was recorded live on the night, I am reliving a unique experience as far as that band's history is concerned. 'Pushing the boundary's' might be a cliche but I am prepared to stick my neck out!! They are true entertainers with a back catalogue of music to back it up.
Oh yes, one final thing - Steve Hogarth is a supreme entertainer displaying humour, humilty and 'on stage' power that I am confident that not many can match! When he speaks, he has such a quiet, vunerable voice - when he sings, it's like an express train hitting you full on!
If you missed them - do not do so again!
Hiya,
I know there are few Frost*ies with the same passion (Mouse for one), maybe your post will bring them out (so to speak!).
I had my Marillionepiphany at High Voltage so I really do "get" what you are saying.
I haven't got STCBM yet, I plan to, but I don't feel too hurried about it.
I couldn't get to any of these gigs but I would be happy to see them again.
My Marillion CD and DVD collection is slowly growing. :)
I agree with your comments about H too. He's one of them "Marmite" elements...but I like him and most of what he does.
I got STCBM yesterday,and its a real grower... ;) I recommend it to the house.
Strange co-incidence, I was just thinking yesterday how cool it would be to hear Frost* covering 'Incommunicado'! Glad to hear Marillion are still aboot, I will go and check it out now.
Bz
Ha ha!! You are all missing something if you think that 'Marrilion are still going'!! Yes, 'the Fish era' has long past but what the band are doing now and for the past many years may well blow your socks off if you have not been a follower!
Fish era - 4 albums
Hogarth era - 13 albums (to date)
If you have access to 'Spotify' there are a number of albums well worth checking out - albeit that a large proportion are live recordings - but, excellent, nonetheless.
And that includes the 'High Voltage Festival' appearance which has been mentioned on a previous post. I was there for that one as well and, I have to confess, was the first gig that I had attended with 'H' in tow - he is so funny and powerful in a live situation. They played a set that was amazing and covered all the salient points in their career that I was hoping to see performed.
Previously, before that and many years ago, the Fish era at Hammersmith Odeon (as it was then) and other smaller gigs, St Albans, etc.
I cannot recommend them highly enough and, for the sake of avoidance, I have no vested interest other that I just love good, well constructed music. Which, probably, is why I am also a Frost* fan!!!! And I have my tickets ready for the Frost* Bites gig in December becasue of that. Whoo hoo!
Marillion songs of distinction - 'Neverland', 'Fantastic Place', 'The Invisble Man', 'This Strange Engine', 'The Lap of Luxury', 'The Party', 'You're Gone', 'Angelina', etc. - a number of those are from the album 'Marbles' which is a highlight!!!
ENJOY!!
Heard STCBM yesterday. Stunning album. Everything you think Marillo is and everything that you think they're not. 'Gaza' is just brilliant, aggressive, dischordant, moving and powerful. Great interview in the current edition of Prog Mag too.
The album i like but not as much as Happiness Is The Road, it just hasn't clicked yet. Gaza seems to be some real nice ideas all bolted into one and doesn't work for me, and my favourite track, Invisible Ink is the one nobody seems to mention.
Saw them on the tour at Sheffield. They were great but the venue was dire. Too many people in too small a venue. Because of its shape anyone halfway back either couldn't see or hear, or both due to the shape of the room and the pillars holding the roof. Add to this the twats talking loudly at the bar all the way through the gig made it feel like £25 wasted.
Oh! Without doubt, it's a shame that the gig 'experience' was not up to your expectations (twats at the bar are a complete mystery to me! - why buy a ticket?)
In contrast, 'Gaza' has clicked for me and, IMHO, is a real grower. As for 'Invisible Ink' - you have a point - it is easily the most accessible piece - although 'Pour My Love' is a very close second, but the more I listen to the CD, the more I am suitably impressed overall! Not too disimilar to when I first purchased the vinyl version of 'Close To The Edge' in 1972 - couldn't stop playing it!
Whoa! back to the point.... When I first listened to 'Montreal' I thought it would be one of those tracks for which I would be hitting the 'next track' button - but I have a bad arm at the mo, and all to the benefit!! Lovely stuff.....
Overall, it takes me back to the time that I first heard 'Marbles' - too much at any one time!!! Just as that, the various meoldies within each song grab you separately. And Steve R's interjections lift each song.
My favourite ''I am waiting for this bit...' moment is Mark Kelly's bridge in 'Sounds That Can't Be Made' (just after H's ''palms of my hand')......leading into Steve R's guitar refrain. My head keeps telling me ''where the hell did that come from?''
Which, in the final analysis, is the whole point about music - and, when we hear Jem's next offering, we shall be saying the same thing!! At least, I bloody hope so!!
P.S. Oddly, and ashamedly, I let 'Happiness Is The Road' pass me by but I have addressed that now and have the 2CD version in my sweaty palms all ready for a number of spins.
Anyway, subject probably closed now - for anyone who has invested - ENJOY!!
I like the new album a lot - my favourite since 'Marbles', as the two in between didn't do as much for me as Marillion usually has done during my adult life. I particularly love the title-track and "The Sky Above the Rain" (heartbreakingly beautiful and tragic lyrics), and "Gaza" is just about worth all the positive hype - certainly an interesting narrative piece that shows Marillion doing new and interesting things in order to serve the storyline.
Missed the tour as I was in Edinburgh the night they were in Manchester, and then I was in Manchester the night they were in Edinburgh, etc.
Picked up Sounds That Can't be Made at the Cardiff gig where I was on photographer duty you can check out the photos HERE (//http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeevstog/sets/72157631503711018/)
Big fan of their earlier stuff (and no, not just the Fish stuff; Brave is one of the finest albums out there, IMHO). Have been meaning to check out the recent albums, but haven't got around to it yet. H is one of my wish list vocalists for my "allstar fantasy band". Would LOVE to see the lads live, but... whens the last time they came to Australia? It is sometimes a bit depressing reading this forum and seeing all the amazing gigs that you can all attend.
I've followed Marillion since the Script days and have continued to enjoy both Marillion and Fish since his departure.
For me Marbles is my favourite Marillion album, but Sounds That Can't Be Made is becoming another classic. All the songs are top notch.
My family went to the Cambridge gig this year and we thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so that we've bought our tickets for the Marillion weekend in Wolverhampton in April.