The Marillion Round Table

I read an article on my phone about the UK government mistakenly "bailing out" Marillion instead of bailing out a construction company called Carillion.  I think that it was just a parody or for humor, but I wasn't really sure.  Has anybody else seen this article or heard this story?


Edited by rushfan4 - January 17 2018 at 14:55

I've been binge listening to Fish-era Marillion for a month now.... I think Clutching At Straws is a masterpiece. Fish's singing is at its peak too. If they could only have squeezed out one or two more albums with him. Vigil in the Wilderness of Mirrors is a pretty good substitute though, not the same ethereal prog vibe as his albums with Marillion though.

Also glad to see Brave getting a reissue, going for the 5-LP box set. The 2013 EMI reissue is one of my best sounding records hands down, truly a magical record. I'm expecting this one will be similar and the live tracks are a nice addition.

First post on here for a little while, and this is a plug for the new Kino album, featuring Mr Trewavas.

It has been 13 years since the debut, and, listening to it for the first time today, I can say it has been well worth the wait.

Extremely good power prog/pop.

I have a bit of a confessional to make: I prefer the H-era to the Fish era. There are many reasons why. Of course, it’s unfair to pit the two eras against each other in the first place since they are two very different bands and that H has spent much more time creating music with them than Fish ever did. My favorite Marillion album is Brave with Afraid of Sunlight and, believe it or not, This Strange Engine coming in second and third places. I felt Radiation and Marillion.com to be weak efforts. Things pick up again with Anoraknophobia and, of course, one of their best efforts, Marbles. I need to give FEAR another listen as I really liked it on first-hearing, but haven’t revisited it. Somewhere Else and Happiness Is The Road are both weak albums, although the title track to Somewhere Else is quite emotionally moving to me. The things they did with Fish, while there’s good music there, aren’t really my cup of tea as they exemplify that ‘neo-prog’ sound, which never has completely won me over, although I will say that IQ were quite fine, but, of course, IQ didn’t have Steve Rothery!

Edited by Mirror Image - June 01 2018 at 20:53

Then, Fugazi came out the next year and I didn't miss the opportunity to see them live for the first time, in the old Spectrum in Montreal. This gig became famous being recorded for the "Real to Reel" live album.

Misplaced Childhood (opening for Rush) and Clutching were also 2 gigs that I did witness and enjoyed.
When H replaced Fish on vocals, it's been a shock. While Seasons End was musically a good follower to what came before, the vocals were too much different. Plus, having H signing Fish's songs on the new tour was really strange. But it was still my Marillion that I like so much and I did start to enjoy the new singer.

However, Holidays In Eden was a nightmare, and at this point, I was about to turn my back to the band.
Hopefully, the Brave album came out. Wonderful album.

Despite some weaker albums at the end of 90's, Marillion remains one of my favorite bands.
I have my picture printed on the marillion.com sleeve and my name included on Anoraknophobia, Marbles, Happiness is the Road and Sounds That Can’t Be made sleeves.

Since 2009, Marillion is including Montreal in the famous week-ends. So I've been part of this event in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. They skipped 2017 but will be back in 2019. Tickets are already in my hands.

I've been lucky enough to witness H doing some body surfing in 2009 during This Strange Engine. After he realized his musical instrument (kind of small synth used to simulate sax) was not working. At this moment, Rothery did start a solo, with his eyes closed and he didn't see H jumping in the crowd. After his solo, he opens his eyes and search for H on stage. The surprise in his face when he realized where was H..... priceless!

Over the years, I saw them live many times, including the “Los Trios Marillios” acoustic tour. I even saw them in Paris during a romantic trip. I did note while I was there with my wife that Marillion was playing a gig at the Bataclan. She knows how much I like Marillion and told me “go see them honey, I will relax and take a rest tonight, we’ve been walking 10 hours / day since the last 6 days”. And of course, I did go ! Thanks to my lovely wife.

I love the last album FEAR and will remain a fan as long as Marillion will continue to produce so great albums.
 

Edited by DarkTower - August 04 2018 at 10:49

Catcher10 wrote: Sorry for late reply.....I don't frequent PA anymore, for obvious reasons, I come here maybe once a week.

And sadly that's PA's loss.

Edited by SteveG - August 07 2018 at 03:53

^ The check's in the mail!

To me, Marillion is one of the few "old" bands, that are still coming up with brilliant new material. Live, they are awesome anyhow.

^ evening, Mr Shrubbery.

I pre-ordered The Disturbance Fields as soon as I heard about it.

It is a stunning piece of work, and I will be posting a review as soon as time allows me shortly.

Of the four albums released, this is the best, which is saying something, given the quality of what went before. Incredible musicianship, stunning concept, beautifully realised.

To summarise, highly recommended to any lover of prog and classic rock.