Marbles [Extra tracks]

As curtain-raising lyrics go, Steve Hogarth's initiatory assertion on Marbles that "The World's gone mad" really isn't very far from the truth. After all, this same shuddering sentiment must have been echoed by perturbed pop watchers up and down the land as Marillion's inexorably adult single "You're Gone" (included here in two versions) gatecrashed the teen-flavoured UK Top 10. The wind did howl and there were dark murmurings that the prog rock bogeyman had finally come for our children. Relax. Thirteen albums in and Marillion don't have designs on our youth.

Behind "Marbles" facade of generous dance beats and FX jiggery pokery lays the stubborn prog beast of old, albeit one that acknowledges the recent past more readily than when Fish was at the helm all those years ago. Thus, you could be forgiven for mistaking "Fantastic Place" to be the work of "Colour of Spring" era Talk Talk (Hogarth does a rather good Mark Hollis) while "Don't Hurt Yourself" borrows from the Manic Street Preachers' "If You Tolerate This" and adds the spiritual protest and folk strum of the Levellers (Hogarth can do a good Mark Chadwick as well). And to avoid any sense of disorientation, there's a reasonable, but never blatant, nod in the direction of Genesis. Old rambling tendencies remain--the pretty "Angelina" has a rather dreary and entirely superfluous two-minute intro--and try as they may Marillion will never be as vital or relevant as Radiohead. That said, committed fans (and there are many) will have their enduring faith in Marillion handsomely repaid by Marbles. --Kevin Maidment

`One of their very best records'

Refusing to compromise their music by bowing to marketing pressures, focus groups or record labels seeking a chart-busting single, Marillion--described by Classic Rock magazine as a "wonderful, idiosyncratic and dramatic rock band"--have pressed on to create their own unmistakable and unique music whilst amassing a huge underground following around the world. Their new CD, Marbles, is a creative milestone of atmospheric and stirring songs. It's intense, deep-seated and musically multilateral--you'll either get it or you won't.

2CD SET – DELUXE DIGIPACK EDITION OF THE 2004 ALBUM ‘ONE OF THEIR VERY BEST RECORDS’ * * * * CLASSIC ROCK Marillion formed in 1979 and have sold over 15 million albums worldwide. Rightly regarded as legends of progressive rock, the band have also continued to evolve and have been keen to embrace the possibilities of the internet, using innovative ways to interact with listeners resulting in an incredibly loyal legion of fans around the world. Marbles was originally released on the band’s own Racket Records label and attracted a lot of attention when it was released as the album had been funded by donations from fans who had pre-ordered the album before they started recording in return for having their name printed within the album artwork (over 18,000 names). The exposure that the band got for this (at the time unheard of) approach helped propel You’re Gone, the first single from the album, into the top 10 of the UK charts while second single, Don’t Hurt Yourself, also charted at #16. This new 2CD Madfish edition of the album is packed in a deluxe 36 page digibook re-worked by original designer Carl Glover. The book features unseen pictures not used in the original artwork. The tracks on the second disc have previously only been available through the band’s own website.