SCHIZOPHRENIC PRAYER

Schizophrenic Prayer is a single released with the Riverside album Rapid Eye Movement (2007). It´s very seldom singles hold any real value to me but Schizophrenic Prayer is a bit different.

The single starts out with the album version of the song Schizophrenic Prayer. So no surprises here. It´s one of the best songs on Rapid Eye Movement though and I find it beautiful. Rainbow Trip is the only real new song here. It´s an instrumental piece heavily inspired by Pink Floyd around Wish You Were Here (1975). It´s a very good song and it could have been a great addition to Rapid Eye Movement. Beyond the Eyelids are an album track from Rapid Eye Movement which has been reworked here and called Behind the Eyelids. I find it pretty exciting and not as heavy as the original version. The fourth track Rapid Eye Movement is also a reworked song from the Rapid Eye Movement album. It´s a pretty ambient version of the song, that is nice and enjoyable allthough not too exciting IMO. There are parts from different songs here. The last song is a remix of Schizophrenic Prayer. This version sounds more electronic and ambient than the original, it´s allright but nothing special.

Both the production and the musicianship are top notch, and I won´t go into details here, as I already wrote about this in my review of Rapid Eye Movement.

I think this is a great addition to the Riverside discography and for fans of the band this is a must. The reworked versions will probably scare some away, but I think it´s a great initiative. Rainbow Trip, as the only new song, is the most interesting treat here though. With a Total Time of 32:46 you really get something for your money. I think this release would be an excellent addition to your prog rock/ metal collection and I will give Schizophrenic Prayer 3.5 stars.

Looking at this new Riverside EP my memories went back to the Fish-era Marillion in the first half of The Eighties, I was stunned by the following similarities: a strong debut album and within a few years embraced by the progheads, a charismatic and emotional singer, a captivating cover art and, last but not least, a serie of EP's/mini-CD's/singles. In those days the record company (EMI) couldn't release too much material but later I felt a bit explored, just as my feelings are now when I notice that this EP (35 minutes) contains 3 songs that can also be found on the 'limited-edition 2-CD' version of the new album Rapid Eye Movement: Schizophrenic Prayer, Behind The Eyelids and the long titletrack. The only new songs are Rainbow Trip (it starts atmospheric, then a tight and hypnotizing rhythm with synthesizer beeps and bleeps and in the end a Floydian inspired guitar solo), a remix of the song Schizophrenic Prayer and a video ('special enhanced cd') of 02 Panic Room. In my opinion a bit disappointing record company strategy ("pecunia non olet") but the Riverside die-hards (like the Fish-era Marillion Freaks) don't mind is my idea when I read about the good sales...