THE THIEVING MAGPIE - LA GAZZA LADRA

At the time of release Fish was about to leave and a whole bunch of Fans will be completely lost. Marillion was a very successful band in these days : topping the charts both with their albums or with their singles. Marillion was able to combine the compositions of catchy and pop songs together with more complex and less accessible tracks.

Marillion already released some live albums, one fully concentrated on their debut studio one "Recital Of The Script" in a video format (converted to DVD some years later), while "Real To Real" and its companion "Brief Encounter" were focused mostly on "Fugazzi" (with here and there an exception).

This live album is split into two distinct CD's. One is fully dedicated to "Misplaced Childhood" and provides a good and faithful rendition of their concept album, while the other one is a kaleidoscope of different concerts. And this is the major problem of this CD.

I have always felt that the greatest live CD's comes out only one single performance. At least there is a continuity and one can feel the atmosphere changing as long as the concert goes on. Here and there we get some contact with the audience, get the reaction from the people attending etc. A true live performance. Nothing as such here, and that'a a pity.

When one knows the awful lot of boots available for Marillion, I do not understand that they did not tape entire concerts and released a live album based on that. Well, actually, they have done it and they will release some of them later on (much later actually). Like in their fantastic three double CD's :"Curtain Call" released in ... 2004.

Thier last album at the time of this release is well represented with four tracks : "Slainte Mhath", "Sugar Mice", "Incommunicado" and "White Russian". But I miss the "Straw Suite" as well as "Beaujolais Day" which was one of my preferred song of the album and released on the remastered edition only. The best song of "Fugazzi" is here and is represented by the title track of course.

Some more commercial tracks will be featured as well, giving the impression of some sorts of "Best Of Live" like " He Knows You Know" and "Punch and Judy". Their magnificent debut album is not forgotten since "Chelsea Monday" and "Script for a Jester's Tear" are here as well and very nice played.

This live album is very good of course : sound is great as well as musicianship. But it lacks in what makes the essence of a great one : the feeling of unity. But don't worry, we'll get it later on as I have mentioned.

Four stars.

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