Nothing really new - but least well packaged ...

Marillon I hear since Fish Times ... and almost every album has excited me as it has always, in every work was something unconventional new with many corners, edges and surprises. This is no longer so: the recognition is undoubtedly very high - but unfortunately also the "re-predictive value": somehow ever, heard everything twice or more. Va the "Strange Engine" Greetings. The album is better mixed and recorded perfect than most Voränger. But a "wow factor" may not be set with me. And - even though now breaks loose a storm of indignation: The Hr. Hogarth can not really sing is not so bad (that can have many highly decorated Stars also not ... Cohen, Springsteen, Knopfler, etc.) - but in this album me this is still very tormented and permanent breast to head or changing falsetto voice too much in the foreground ... sorry: they simply annoying and destroyed many a well-composed song and my "well-being". Montreal, Invisible Ink and The Sky Above The Rain for me are still the strongest songs. The rest ... well, and "Lucky Man" is extremely weak and unimaginative.

Paradoxically, I was very pleasantly surprised just candyball last song (The sky above ...): such a harmonious overall design in this perfection, I had the boys no longer have expected at the end - already captivate the first piano sounds. And here is also true the moderate presence of Lead Singer - so it's been really good. Otherwise unfortunately remains somewhat perplexed boredom that does not lie down even after repeated listening.

This work belongs of course still on the shelf of every Marillion fans - but every other music lover, I recommend once good and a little longer in this album inside to hear. Because Mr. Hogarth makes the listener not easy.
Dirk