The Marillion Round Table

lazland wrote: Roj M30 wrote: This is my first visit here but as it's a recommendation I'm after then is the only place to come.   I'll first introduce my Marillion connection.  Right back at the start of the Prog Rock Revival ('twas indeed known as that) back in the early 80s I was a huge Marillion fan.  This was before they had released anything other than that classic first three track tape (where oh where did I put that  - it would be worth a fortune I'll bet now).  I saw them live a couple of times and felt privileged that a new prog band was about to break through and I was so excited to be part of it.   Then came the record deal and the single (how fab was Grendel, even though it had a similarity to a certain classic we all know and love) and then the debut album.  I really liked the album but I already knew those songs and they appeared a little watered down compared to the versions I knew.  Fugazi really disappointed me and though Misplaced Childhood was better I was starting to drift away.  Fish left, I thought that was it.  I heard some of the early h stuff and didn't really like it at all.  I also disliked his voice and at that point, as the UK was carried away on a wave of Madchester rave, acid and trance I departed the Marillion scene.  I though never to return.   Fast forward twenty years.  Twenty years older but also with a much wider appreciation of prog music I thought I had to dive back in.  I read some reviews and decided that Marbles had to be the one to go for.  Steve's review swung it for me, as he's a guy who has very similar taste to me.   So.........  Well I was blown away musically by the album from the very first track.  I still wasn't keen on h's vocals but musically this was sublime.  The Invisible Man, Fantastic Place, Neverland and particularly the amazing Ocean Cloud had me thinking what have I been doing?  Repeated spins have left me totally intoxicated by a band that I find now a thousand times better than their early 80s incarnation.  I have even grown to like h's vocals as well.  Suffice to say I'll be at their show at Manchester Academy come December.   I hope that's not bored everybody too much.  Thanks for your patience.  Now to the question.  Marbles is the only h album I have.  If I like that so much where do I go next?  I would genuinely welcome any recommendations  I love it when a musical journey is posted - excellent post! As to recommendations, I would normally say each of them. But, I'll give you a few to try, in order of what i feel should be purchased: 1. Brave. One of the all time top three albums I own (Marbles is in there as well). A work of such utter genius that each of them should have received a knighthood. Harrowing, complex, soaring, I defy anyone to be moved by it. 2. Afraid Of Sunlight. The review in Q magazine at the time said if anyone other than Marillion had recorded this, it would be a world wide smash, and they were right. Contains some of their finest work. King will blow you away. 3. This Strange Engine. A fantastic, thoughtful, and provocative album. Man of a Thousand Faces is an exceptionally strong opener, and the title track contains Rothery's finest moment (which is saying something).  4. Radiation. This gets a lot of stick, but I regard it as being a very important forerunner to Marbles. It was recorded in my old home town, and is uniformly excellent. Should be enough to keep you going

 

Roj M30 wrote: As a result of an unexpected gift from my Good Lady, I now have my second h era cd, Afraid of Sunlight, 2 cd version.  It's primed for a good listening this weekend .

lazland wrote: rushfan4 wrote: I only have the single disc version of Marbles, which incidently I am currently playing.  I've read somewhere else (pun intended) in this thread that it would behoove me to get the two disc version.  I think that I might rather just download the songs that I don't have, but if that is not an option I will have to keep this new re-issue in mind. I bought the single CD version on release, Scott. It's a work of genius. I was, however, persuaded by Eric & Joel to get the double CD version, and haven't once regretted it. Prog heaven.

The 2 disc version is well worth it. "The Only Unforgivable Thing" is absolutely brilliant, but "Ocean Cloud" is in my top 6 or 7 Marillion songs. The band looked stunned when at the 3rd night of the convention when we had to vote between "Ocean Cloud" and "This Strange Engine" that the former was voted by the audience. Thankfully, the band came back out and ended the night with "This Strange Engine".

E

Jake Kobrin wrote: Can someone please help me get into this band??? I own both S f a J's T and Misplaced Childhood (an Austrian version with Austrian and German tour dates on it...  ). I find the emotion to be quite... forced... and campy in a way...

Anyone catch the last Classic Prog magazine with Rachel Cohen(The Reasoning) talking about how the Hogarth-era Marillion has been the soundtrack to her life.She talks about every album from Seasons End to Somewhere Else discussing the album covers and more.

I have been a fan of Marillion since 1988/89 (about there) and have continued to be a fan to this day.   Fish era and H era are different, but I connect with both.  

lazland wrote: mawgojzeta wrote: I have been a fan of Marillion since 1988/89 (about there) and have continued to be a fan to this day.   Fish era and H era are different, but I connect with both.   Well, welcome along - hope you stay here for a long and happy journey. not only will you enjoy the Marillion discussions, but, hopefully, pick up on a whole load of other great acts

Thank you. I have been reading (and thoroughly enjoying) several of the forum discussions today.  So interesting!  And at times, so funny! 

lazland wrote: Mellotron Storm wrote: Anyone catch the last Classic Prog magazine with Rachel Cohen(The Reasoning) talking about how the Hogarth-era Marillion has been the soundtrack to her life.She talks about every album from Seasons End to Somewhere Else discussing the album covers and more. Yeah, and very good it was too. Rothery has worked with them a fair bit, and I saw them support Fish on his last tour. Damn good they were, too. Me & the missus also got a mention on the Adverse Camber CD A great band who i think will go far. And they are Welsh

Jet Wesley wrote: For some reason I think that Hogarth-era Marillion is the perfect soundtrack for driving down the Garden Route in South Africa - strange I know but I was introduced to Marillion years back on that route, and on many subsequent SA drives I have listened to pretty much nothing else.  Something about the epic-ness of the music is realised in the scenery...

Update:

"Marillion have decided to take August off for summer hols. This means I can dedicate a whole month to seriously moving forward with the Hogarth Barbieri album which I have been developing in my spare time. Richard has sent me some truly magical music and I'm finding it so inspiring and easy to gather words and ideas to transform these into "songs". I say "songs" in inverted commas because there is no need to think in conventional terms at all about the structures or, indeed, to worry about the rule-book. I can simply enjoy myself and paint pictures with my voice. I'm layering up vocal textures and having a lot of fun here in the loft.

"What does it sound like? It sounds like nothing I've ever heard. Is it too weird then? Well, everyone to whom I have so far played the demo's have been knocked out!. These people are my kids, girlfriend, and a small circle of mates (mostly "cool- farmers" and their wives) so I'm confident it's a cross-section in terms of taste. Last week Richard and I paid a visit to the brilliant and lovely Dave Gregory who is currently writing some string arrangements and (knowing him!) playing a bit of guitar on a couple of tracks. Exciting times..

"I'm in the hammock with a lolly, and so, naturally, my thoughts have turned to Christmas. I have been offered a Sunday night at the legendary 100 Club at 100 Oxford Street in the heart of London's west-end, so have confirmed Sunday 18th of December for a SOLO CHRISTMAS PARTY! Yes, I know you're probably already coming to the Forum on the 14th to see Marillion, but you might also fancy something intimate for Christmas..? So if you've always wanted to ask me the name of my first pet (quite handy for hacking into my bank account) but never had the chance, or if you wonder why I wrote what I wrote, or want to hear some of my all- time favourite songs stripped back to a voice and not much else (apart from my questionable piano-playing..) or if you just want to find out what colour this hammock is, come and help yourself to one of my baubles..

"Okay, after me "Deck the halls and lick your lolly fa lalalalalalala la.."
www.wegottickets.com/event/126436

"ps Thanks to all who have left messages on my h guestbook at stevehogarth.com. Keep em coming - the guestbook always cheers me up! I also have a new Facebook page: www.facebook.com/icecreamgenius

"Well, I'd better crack on. More soon..

"Love and synthesizers,
h