Marillion - Fugazi - A slightly different side of the band

After only one year waiting period MARILLION released their wide album called Fugazi, the singer and songwriter FISH from a book about the Vietnam War has borrowed. An important change, it had already given in advance: drummer Mick Pointer (today ARENA) was replaced by IAN MOSLEY (including Steve Hackett Band). This gives the band more opportunities because he plays varied and sensitive as a pointer.

In the production MARILLION again relied on the tried and tested duo from the first album as a producer and sound engineer TAUBER NICK SIMON HANHART. But unlike very warm sound of SCRIPT FOR A Jester's Tear the sophomore FUGAZI comes rather reserved - almost clinically clean - therefore. Thus, the instruments sound more clearly defined and more brilliant than in its debut. But for that lack the aforementioned warm, intimate atmosphere of SCRIPT. If SCRIPT showed the band at their GENESIS-influenced side, then FUGAZI of PINK FLOYD / ROGER WATERS-counterpart to many disturbing, mystical atmospheres, unexplained fractures. But even after decades of the album is exciting and up to date. It never ceases to doing the work, time pressure under which it was built between Tour, shooting, post-production, promotion, and the next upcoming tour.

Even when Cover MARILLION were not taking any chances and familiar again an old acquaintance: Mark Wilkinson, who had already worked with SCRIPT FOR A Jester's Tear for the band. And here, too, parallels to the music. The room in which the abgeschminkte fool located is cooler than the room where was still the mascot of the band in SCRIPT. He is also leached from the dark side of celebrity life and disillusioned.

Here, the coolness reflected in the texts again. It almost seems that MARILLION have looked a little bit behind the curtain of the pop star-existence - and not everything they saw, they liked (the pressure of record companies, the fame and drugs). The lyrics are another prime example of the ideas and images-wealth, the FISH creates the day repeatedly. In PUNCH & JUDY he analyzes from his own fear of a close relationship, such as a marriage-hell of a wonderful relationship. In JIGSAW he dissects some very sharp-tongued, how people treat each other in society. In the text to SHE CHAMELEON FISH turns the tables and expects relentlessly reveals the phenomenon of groupies from that are just looking for a carnal autograph ". On the other hand FISH revealed this extremely sensitive and almost fragile side of his soul. In conclusion, the title track is concerned with its own fish demon alcohol, which he could not escape for many years and there was almost too easy.

Of course FUGAZI has been revised as part of the digital re-releases of Marillion albums and remixed. In addition, can be found on a bonus CD Maxi version of CINDERELLA SEARCH, which is also on the bonus disc of SCRIPT FOR A Jester's Tear contained THREE BOATS DOWN FROM THE CANDY, as well as alternative and demo versions of FUGAZI pieces.

FUGAZI may not be the ideal album to go into the universe MARILLION, but it's definitely a very successful and sophisticated work that is never boring, even after repeated listening.