Marillion - This Strange Engine
	Released: 1997 Label: Eaglerock / Velvel Cat. No.: Vel 70791 2 Total Time: 70:44
	Reviewed by: Stephanie Sollow, May 1998 It's probably unfair for me to review a Marillion album, since they are my favourite band and that the final verdict will be buy this album, but This Strange Engine finds Marillion in fine form, having recovered from the somewhat lethargic Afraid of Sunlight. There is a renewed energy and a willingness to explore different textures - the blues intro to "One Fine Day" for example, or the Caribbean beat of "Hope For the Future." But, the familiar Marillionisms are here, too. The elegant, lilting guitar of Steve Rothery; the intricate keyboards of Mark Kelly, etc. Too pop for progressive purists and too progressive for pop, perhaps, but Marillion have crafted another album that lands squarely in the 90's. Of course, the title track is a mini-epic, winding it's way through different moods, tempos, etc. (a hallmark of progressive?) - a concept album in a single track, giving an opportunity for the entire band to "strut their stuff." Admittedly, my first impression of Marillion's latest release wasn't entirely positive, having heard most of the tracks for the first time live last August in San Juan Capistrano and finding the studio performances rather thin in comparison. Inevitably, after a few close listens, this has become one of my favourite album of 1997. There are no favourite tracks for me, because I like them all - perhaps "The Memory of Water" slightly less than the others. But, the highlight track of this album, other than the title track, is the hauntingly beautiful "Estonia." Place this in the same category as "Easter" and "The Great Escape" and "Script For A Jester's Tear." Marillion have always known the value of dynamics in their compositions, the value of a well placed solo, the power of a dramatic moment, and this album is no different. There isn't a bum track, or even any filler...this is a solid album, that very few will hear (at least in the US). You don't have to be one of them! Buy this album! More about This Strange Engine: Track Listing: Man Of A Thousand Faces (7:32) () / One Fine Day (5:31) / 80 Days (5:00) / Estonia (7:56) / Memory Of Water (3:01) / An Accidental Man (6:12) / Hope For The Future (5:10) / This Strange Engine (30:22) Musicians: Steve Hogarth - Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion Steve Rothery - Guitar Mark Kelly - Keyboards Pete Trewavas - Bass Ian Mosley - Drums and Percussion Charlton & Newbottle School Choir - Vocals (#1) Tim Perkins - Balalaika (#4) Phil Todd - Saxophone (#8) Paula Savage - Trumpet (#7) Contact: The Web UK P O Box 533 Richmond, Surrey TW9 2EX Website: www.marillion.com Note: will open new browser window Email: info@marillion.com Discography Script For A Jester's Tear (1983) Fugazi (1984) Reel to Real (1984) Misplaced Childhood (1985) Brief Encounter(ep 1985) Clutching At Straws (1987/99) The Thieving Magpie (1988) B-Sides Themselves (1988) Season's End (1989) Holidays In Eden (1991) A Singles Collection (1992) Live at the Borderline (1992)* Live in Caracas (1993)* Live in Glasgow (1993)* Brave (1994) The Making Of Brave (1995)* Afraid Of Sunlight (1995) Made Again (1996) Kayleigh (1996) Dutch comp Essential Collection (1996) UK comp; same as above Best of Both Worlds (1997) This Strange Engine (1997) Rochester (1998)* Piston Broke (1998)* Tales From The Engine Room (1998) Radiation (1998) Christmas 1998: The Web Christmas** Kayliegh: The Essential Collection (1998) UK comp.; diff. from above Unplugged At The Walls (1999)* Marillion.com (1999) Zodiac (1999)* Christmas 1999: marillion.christmas (1999) marillion.co.uk (or bonus disk) (2000)*** The Singles: '82 - '88 (box set) (2000) Christmas 2000: A Piss-Up In A Brewery** ReFracted! (2001)* Anoraknophobia (2001) Another DAT At The Office (2001)* Christmas 2001: A Verry Barry Christmas (2001)** Fallout (2002)* Anorak In The UK Live (2002)* Brave Live 2002 (2002)* Caught In The Net (2002)* AWOL (2002)*** The Best of Marillion (2003) View From The Balcony (2003)*** Christmas 2003: Say Cheese! Christmas With Marillion (2003)** Curtain Call (2004) (3CD Box)* Crash Course (2004)*** Marbles (2004) Brave Live 2002 (2002) (DVD) Shot In The Dark (2002) (DVD / Video) A Piss-up In A Brewery (2002) (DVD) The EMI Singles Collection (2003) (DVD) Christmas In The Chapel (2003) (DVD) Before First Light (2003) (DVD) Marbles On The Road (2005) (DVD) * Racket Records releases ** exclusive fanclub discs
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