![]() His lyrics, voice and presence on stage were unique. The departure of Fish from Marillion back in 1988 left me sad at the time. I didn't want to like this album, but I did. That is, to anyone willing to accept that music isn't just something to listen to while doing something else, but something that in and of itself can be a wondrous experience. I very strongly recommend this album to anyone with a serious interest in music. ![]() From Brave - and certainly "Afraid" onwards - they have come into their own. Marillion, however, steer well clear of such traps. That isn't surprising: this is the most challenging and difficult sort of music there is, and in our day and age, this sort of stuff is not commercially viable (unless you simply reproduce riffs and solos already recorded thirty years back, which most "prog" groups do). There are few bands in the so-called "progressive music" niche these days which are worthwhile. ![]() And better yet, a band which managed to produce that finest of elements in music: a sense of wonder, of magic, of being drawn into textures and sounds and words which are rewarding, which mean something. ![]() A warmer and more thoughtful group, and a very mature and intelligent band to boot. And as the songs grew on me, I had to accept that a new Marillion had been born. But after the brave Brave came the extraordinary Afraid of Sunlight, an exceptionally beautiful album which I bought on a whim and only came to like - love, if you will - reluctantly. Sure enough Marillion went on to release a few albums which were, in relative terms at least, totally dispensable (Seasons End and Holidays in Eden). And so, when Fish left after the fourth studio album (Clutching at Straws), it was obviously all over. The driving force behind Marillion was, at that time, their singer, Fish. This wasn't emulation, thank God, it was inspiration. And with a spirit, originality and a raw emotional input which reflected the punk era that was only then evolving into more mature forms. This was the early 80's, and while there had had been a few bands that had tried to emulate - unsuccessfully! - groups like ELP and Yes, no-one had dared to even come close to the enigmatic and literary Genesis. And buying their first album, Script from a Jester's Tear, during a trip to Belgium soon afterwards. I remembering seeing Marillion during their first concert in Holland.
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