MUSIC REVIEW: Marillion - Brave

"Probably Marillion's most ambitious work."

It was fifteen months of work that led to the completion of this record, which is in many ways the most 'progressive' thing the band has done. It is the touching story of a disillusioned young girl who runs away from home, attempts suicide, gets picked up by the police, and learns a thing or two about life and love. The story is told through a non-linear approach with intermittent flashbacks establishing the shattered emotional state of the story's protagonist.

After dabbling with pop for Holidays In Eden, the band headed in a challenging art-rock direction for this release, the most challenging of the Marillion catalogue (from Fish or Hogarth eras). The album features several moments of subtle beauty, emotion tumult, and brash hard-rock (some of the more audacious Marillion songs are on this album). The production is subtle and the arrangements are richly textured. Brave's music is not complicated, but it is densely layered with myriad sounds (more so than any other Marillion album).

For this reason, the album is only truly appreciated at high volume levels or with headphones. For instance, the lengthy instrumental passage on the 12 minute "Goodbye to All That" appears meandering, but headphones reveal considerable depth and ingenuity in the composition. The band adds a quick note in the liner notes, "Play it loud and with the lights off." This is definitely a must (although a candle might be handy so you can read the lyrics - it will still preserve the mood). Even saying that, I think the dynamic range of this album is just too extreme. Some parts are so quiet as to be nearly inaudible if you are listening at a "regular" volume. That's annoying, but I don't think it's a fair criticism in and of itself, because Marillion wasn't intending this to be for casual listening. Basically, it means you can't really listen to this album in the car without a lot of fiddling with the volume.

This is a wonderful album. Certainly one of the better discs from the Hogarth days.