|
If the number of reviews we've done here
at AMZ is any indication, Marillion has hit a sudden, very fertile
patch in their careers. Prolific as this band has become of late
though, they're still more or less obscure here in the states.
For those of us in the know however, these boys deliver some
of the finest music out there today and it's my pleasure to be
able to deliver my take on it.
Recorded exclusively for Marillion's own
Racket Records label, "Piston Broke" is a double CD
encompassing a complete live performance from the "This
Strange Engine" tour. The set list is mostly culled from
the last three albums and features many tracks never before released
on a live recording. The sound quality is above par, but not
quite as clean as other live recording's they've released. The
mix is sometimes awkward -- often Ian Mosely's drums sound like
they've been placed at the end of a long tunnel -- but the rough-around-the-edges
sound doesn't necessarily detract from the magic of the moment.
The set opens with "Man of 1000 Faces,"
the opener on "This Strange Engine." I have always
loved the way this song works its way from a relatively mellow
start to a climactic (grandiose?) finish, complete with Boys
Choir. Through the magic of digital sampling, the live version
builds to the same electric finish -- a great way to warm up
an audience and start a show!
"Hard as Love" comes next. This
is one of the more rockin' tracks from "Brave" and
makes for a great live interpretation. Front man Steve Hogarth
puts on a great show for this song, making it one of the more
visual songs in Marillion's repetoire, but "Hard as Love"
still rocks on as an audio-only tune. With a quick fade from
"Hard as Love" comes "Gazpacho" and "Afraid
of Sunlight." While "Afraid of Sunlight" is on
the last 'official' live disc, "Gazpacho," a poignant
song about domestic violence ala O.J. Simpson, has never been
released live before and is a great treat. For me, this song
is one of the high points on "Piston Broke."
"Estonia," from "This Strange
Engine" is a song commemorating a horrible ferry accident.
It's a song about loss and death -- sort of a downer in an otherwise
pretty upbeat show, but it's a totally awesome, heartfelt tribute,
played to perfection on this night.
One of the greatest things about a Marillion
show is the interaction between the boys onstage and the crowd
below. Two perfect examples of this interaction are "The
Space" and "Easter." "The Space" comes
about between songs as Hogarth picks up on the crowd's chanting
and begins an off-the-cuff rendition of the "Seasons End"
song. When the audience goes nuts, the boys decide they had better
carry on with it, and thus begins a spur of the moment acoustic
rendition of "The Space." They don't play the whole
thing, but the two-plus minutes worth seems to be enough for
the Paris crowd. "Easter" comes next and Hogarth points
the microphone into the audience and allows the fans to sing
the through to the first chorus. This type of sing along is a
Marillion staple and, if Hogarth's smile is any indication, a
favorite of band and fan alike.
Disc two begins with the Epic title track
from the recent "This Strange Engine" album. This song
is one of my favorites and the live version, complete with a
rare Bass solo by Pete Trewavas, truly does the song justice.
Hogarth's vocals are in perfect form and the song about his childhood
is just as powerful live as in the studio. "This Strange
Engine" is the best part of the show!
"Sugar Mice" is the only Fish-era
song in the show, but it's probably the most suited song for
Hogarth's Voice. He once said that he thought the song was brilliant;
I tend to agree. Listen to the lyrics -- it's not hard to become
lost in the world of a man who has lost everything and the only
thing he can say is "Blame it on me." It's a great
song -- a good fit for this set.
"This Town", from "Holidays
in Eden" is another one of my favorites. This song's gut-punching
lyrics and in-your-face attitude just get my blood pumping! This
live version has been kicked up a notch from others I've heard
and seen; Hogarth pushes his voice to the limit as the band kicks
up a storm. This is obviously an encore track -- the crowd is
really getting their money worth.
"King" has sort of become a show-closer
for the band in the last couple tours, and this gig is no exception.
About fame and fortune and the way it ruins lives, this song
is pure, raw power. The ending, a cacophonous roar of guitar,
bass, synth and kick drum builds to such a crescendo that you
swear to God the building is going to explode. When the noise
cuts in mid-roar, the crowd is left swooning. I've been there,
and I know what they're feeling -- they want more, but just don't
know if they can take it!
This is a great show, caught on a night
when the band was really on fire. The extremely limited distribution
of "Piston Broke" almost assures that it will be come
a collectors item, but don't buy it because it might be worth
something some day. Buy it because it's a great taste of what
I believe to be the best live band ever!
|
