MARILLION – Marbles In The Park (2017)
I’m not sure many would have predicted that 22 years after their last UK top ten album, MARILLION would take their last studio effort F.E.A.R., right up to #4. Lyrically challenging and musically rewarding the album found the band right at the height of their powers and yet you could argue that it is in the live arena that they’ve always been at their best.
So now they are releasing “Marbles In The Park“, which is (depending on your preference) a 2CD, DVD, Bluray retelling of the band’s 2004 album Marbles, filmed and recorded at the 2015 Marillion Weekend in Port Zélande, in The Netherlands.
Ths fifteen track epic Marbles was viewed by many as a return to form from Marillion, their previous three albums veering on occasion into areas their long faithful fanbase weren’t quite so sure of.
Therefore, in front of a packed, vociferous, partisan crowd, it’s no surprise that it’s the full monty version of Marbles that’s given new life here. It’s a breathtaking experience.
Technically this release is simply stunning, with a fantastic quality sound.
Steve Hogarth’s vocals are immediately in character, something he maintains in all manner of guises for the entire show and with sublime numbers such as “You’re Gone”, “Ocean Cloud” “The Damage” and “Drilling Holes” for him to get his teeth into, no wonder.
Still, these songs would be nothing without the amazing talents of Messrs Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas and Mosley, and as you’d expect from a quartet that have been together since 1984, their chemistry is verging on telepathic. Something the enigmatic, emotional rendition of Marbles closing number “Neverland” illustrates to perfection.
The choice of the Afraid Of Sunlight pair, “Out Of This World” and “King” and the title track of Sounds That Can’t Be Made prove equally inspired as encores, but by this stage it’s mere icing on the most sumptuous of cakes.
“Marbles In The Park” is a fantastic live album that I’d have no hesitation in recommending.
It’s a luxury recording and it’s certain to go down great with Marillion fans and melodic prog fans in general.
Highly Recommended
Disc 1
1. The Invisible Man
2. Marbles I
3. Genie
4. Fantastic Place
5. The Only Unforgivable Thing
6. Marbles II
7. Ocean Cloud
8. Marbles III
Disc 2
1. The Damage
2. Don’t Hurt Yourself
3. You’re Gone
4. Angelina
5. Drilling Holes
6. Marbles IV
7. Neverland
8. Out of This World
9. King
10. Sounds That Can’t Be Made
Steve Hogarth – vocals, guitar, keyboard, percussion
Steve Rothery – guitar
Ian Mosely – drums
Mark Kelly – piano, keyboards
Peter Trewavas – bass, backing vocals
BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Marbles-Park-MARILLION/dp/B01MQKSOEF
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