MARILLION "MOST TOYS" VIDEO RELEASED

Here's the official video for "Most Toys" from the forthcoming Marillion album, Somewhere Else.  The clip was filmed at this year's Weekend at Port Zeland, Holland in February and was recently released by the band's marketing director, Lucy Jordache, on YouTube.  The first single, "See It Like A Baby," will be a download-only release on March 26th and the album follows April 9th.  The first leg of the Somewhere Else tour begins April 14 in Gibraltar and runs through the beginning of July.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVn-ew1_Kfs

MARILLION ARTICLE IN GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE

An interesting article about Marillion has appeared in the March issue of Gibraltar's Insight Magazine about their upcoming tour-opening show on the Rock:

MARILLION: set to take Gibraltar "somewhere else"
Our part of the world is privileged in many ways, but the hosting of big-name concerts is sadly not one of them.  When major acts visit the Iberian Peninsula, it’s rare for them to venture further south than Madrid, with major acts that have visited Gibraltar having done so on a special, one-off basis (Santana back in 1992 or Elton John joining the Tercentenary Celebrations).  All that is about to change on 14th April, when British Rock/Alternative/Progressive act Marillion visit the Rock.

Not only will this be the first time that Gibraltar has been included as part of a major Rock ensemble’s international tour, but it also represents the inaugural date of an extensive European trek in support of forthcoming album “Somewhere Else”.  Fans can witness Marillion’s legendary live prowess in London, Paris, Rome, Munich or Budapest, but they’ll have longer to wait: Things kick off here at the Tercentenary Sports Hall, the first time these new facilities have been used for an event of this type.

Marillion’s frontman Steve Hogarth has already performed locally, having delivered a stunning, stripped-down solo set at a packed St Michael’s Cave during last year’s National Week celebrations.  The concert on 14th April is, however, something altogether different: a spectacular light show, large stage and suitably impressive sound to accompany the band’s uncompromising, uplifting, thought-provoking and powerful music.  Steve Hogarth is, quite simply, one of the most talented singers and songwriters in the world.  Behind him stand four musicians who perform with more flair and conviction than the majority of other acts.  Keyboardist Mark Kelly is — if you’ll excuse the pun — instrumental in delivering the special flourishes that make the identifiable Marillion sound, while bass player Pete Trewavas and drummer Ian Mosley provide the solid rhythmic backing for the sometimes complex layers.  But it is guitarist Steve Rothery, in particular, who commands the musical focus with his inimitable style and breathless solos.  If you’re not familiar with Marillion’s work, I dare you to turn up at the gig and not be amazed at the sound emanating from Rothery’s guitars.

Of course, despite already having released a staggering nine albums with Hogarth at the helm (the tenth is issued just days prior to the Gibraltar concert), misconceptions still exist.  Fish quit way back in 1988, after just four albums, so don’t expect to hear “Kayleigh”.  Contrary to the “80’s Prog-Metal” tag they are sometimes still wrongly lumbered with, Marillion are a relevant, groundbreaking and brave Rock outfit who continue to evolve, with even touches of Radiohead or Keane ensuring that the Rock blueprint continues to venture into new musical territories.

So, what can the Gibraltar audience expect?  If you’re already a fan, you know that the recent “Marbles” album (including singles “You’re Gone” and “Don’t Hurt Yourself”, which reached the top end of the UK Charts) is a masterpiece, but then again the same can be said of brilliant records like “Seasons End”, “Holidays In Eden”, “Anoraknophobia” or the epic “Brave”.  If you’re not yet a follower, give them a chance and you won’t be disappointed.  How could you go wrong with a band that Classic Rock magazine describes as “an enduring and undervalued treasure” or whose sound The Guardian defined as “highly dramatic, emotional, dynamic stuff”? “There are a million bands who kick ass,” says Kerrang magazine, “but just a few, like Marillion, who really move people.”

Remember: to those who already know Marillion, they’re something special; to everyone else, they’re a love affair waiting to happen.

Marillion play live at the Tercentenary Sports Hall on Saturday 14th April.  The concert is organised by the Ministry of Culture and Planet Projects, thanks to the support of the Bonita Trust, Party Gaming and Ocean Village.  The support band is Super Wookie. Tickets, priced at £17, are on sale at Vijay and Marble Arc or through www.marilliongib.com.

Another sampler track from Somewhere Else:

Somewhere Else
[Disclaimer:  mp3s will be posted for a limited time and are for evaluation only — if the music moves you buy their albums, support the musicians]

Preorder Somewhere Else from Townshend Records.

MARILLION — SOMEWHERE ELSE

My favorite band, Marillion will release their 14th studio album — Somewhere Else on April 9th.  It's their first album of new music since 2004's Marbles.  A download-only single, "See It Like A Baby", will be released on March 26th.  Fans attending the Marillion Weekend in Holland last month were treated to the live debut of five tracks from
the new album and others in the U.S. and Europe have been attending band-sponsored listening parties over the past couple of weeks.  The band posted some excerpts from Somewhere Else on their MySpace page not long ago and discussions about the new songs have dominated their official online forum for weeks.

The official Marillion online shop won't be selling the album until after it's released but they have set up a deal with Townshend Records for a pre-order special.  All those who order Somewhere Else through Townshend prior to April 9th will receive an exclusive DVD featuring three live tracks filmed at the 2007 Weekend.  A good deal at £11.99.

The full track listing for the album is:

The Other Half
See It Like A Baby
Thankyou Whoever You Are
Most Toys
Somewhere Else
A Voice From The Past
No Such Thing
The Wound
The Last Century For Man
Faith

The last track is actually a holdover from the Marbles sessions (which produced quite a few yet-to-be-released tracks) and a lovely acoustic number that fans seem to either love or hate.

I've really been looking forward to this new album and was very disappointed we couldn't attend the Weekend in Holland (obtaining a visa for my wife proved too daunting).  I did preorder the CD/DVD combo the day it was announced in late January and listened to the MySpace clips over and over again when those were posted (none of what I heard impressed me very much, to tell the truth).

A few days ago, France Inter radio broadcast an interview with lead singer Steve Hogarth which included full versions of five of the songs from Somewhere Else.  Although the broadcast was in mono and at a very low bitrate (21Kbps), I recorded it and edited the tracks out so I could listen repeatedly before the release date.

I have to admit that none of the songs have really grabbed me the way those from Marbles did on first listen — there's nothing immediately as compelling as "Fantastic Place" or "Neverland" (although several people on the forum have stated the first half of the title track sounds a bit like "Ocean Cloud", I just can't hear the similarity).  The single, "See It Like A Baby", just doesn't sound like a Marillion track at all but it's beginning to grow on me a bit more.  "Most Toys" is a short rocker that should have been the first single in my opinion; I love the chorus — "He who dies with the most toys is still dead" — which I think is a nice variation on my Dad's motto of You can't take it with you...

My favorite among these first tracks is either "The Last Century For Man" (which many on the message board seem to dislike so what do I know?), particularly the "A Day In The Life"-style flourihes in the second half, or "Thankyou Whoever You Are" which is majestically beautiful.

See It Like A Baby
Most Toys
The Last Century For Man
Thankyou Whoever You Are
[Disclaimer:  mp3s will be posted for a limited time and are for evaluation only — if the music moves you — buy their albums, support the musician]

Preorder Somewhere Else from Townshend Records.