MARILLION – Marillion With Friends From The Orchestra (2019)

“Marillion With Friends From The Orchestra” is the new studio CD from prog legends MARILLION that features re-recordings of song from across their career, both enhanced by six-piece mini-orchestra of strings and horns.
Recorded at The Racket Club and Real World Studios, and with a running time of almost 80 minutes, “With Friends From The Orchestra” features nine classic Marillion tracks re-imagined and accompanied by the In Praise Of Folly String Quartet with Sam Morris (French Horn) and Emma Halnan (Flute).

Working with their brilliant producer and collaborator Michael Hunter in writing some new string arrangements for these songs, Marillion started to make some demos with a string quartet to taste the results. Anf they were very pleased.
“Estonia,” originally from 1997’s album This Strange Engine and the first song to be revealed from the album, gives a first insight into the hauntingly beautiful and touching versions of some of the band’s most beloved songs.

I have to admit that at first glance it took somo time for me to be immersed into this ‘new’ Marillion format, but once the music starts to grab you, these new versions are indeed a thing of beauty. Some of them are actually better than the originals, or at least, good as them.
As usual, production & mix are first class, so Marillion fans rejoice.
Highly Recommended

01. Estonia
02. A Collection
03. Fantastic Place
04. Beyond You
05. This Strange Engine
06. The Hollow Man
07. The Sky Above the Rain
08. Seasons End
09. Ocean Cloud

Steve Hogarth / vocals
Mark Kelly / keyboards
Ian Mosley / drums & percussion
Steve Rothery / guitar
Pete Trewavas / bass
with:
“In Praise of Folly” – String Quartet
Sam Morris / French horn
Emma Halnan / flute

BUY IT
www.amazon.co.uk/Friends-Orchestra-Marillion/dp/B07Z761FL6