Marillion: Holidays In Eden Live

The first in a number of live recordings set to be unleashed by earMUSIC from Marillion's very own Racket Records back catalogue, Holidays In Eden Live was recorded in 2011 at one of the band's now legendary 'weekends' in Port Zélande in The Netherlands. With three different sets played out over three days, these events are often seen as an opportunity to celebrate a particular album. In 2011, that album was the under-appreciated Holidays In Eden, the second release from the band featuring then (he joined the band in 1989) new frontman Steve Hogarth. With his debut with Marillion, Seasons End, seen as something of a classic and Brave, the album that came after Holidays, viewed as something of a masterpiece, what was served up in between is often forgotten. And while the band themselves would happily admit that Holidays in Eden is, by their standards anyway, something of a pop laced work out, looking back now, that assessment is more than a little unfair.

Relived from start to finish, the partizan, multi-national audience is held in thrall as the story telling trio of "Splintering Heart", "Cover My Eyes" and "The Party" are brought back to life; the first a forceful shove with a heavy prog heartbeat, the second a more clipped slice of sing along commercialism (although with clever lyrics and a stunning guitar solo) while the third is an involved and unsettling coming of age story. From there, this stunningly performed version of that album meanders in a more cliched love song style, "No One Can", "Waiting To Happen", the title track and "Dry Land" accessible while never throwaway, before the more ebullient and strutting prog of "This Town", "The Rake's Progress" and "100 Nights" offer a depth many forget this album always contained. HIE may not be one of the most celebrated releases by this band, but to be reminded of its power, diversity and heartfelt nature in the live setting is welcome indeed.

Disc two is somewhat shorter, the Holidays b'sides, "How Can It Hurt" (which may only be second to "Hooks In You" in terms of heavy metal Marillion – it's an underrated belter of a track) and the much more musically and lyrically claustrophobic "The Collection" thriving in this setting and deserving of a wider audience. Before the post-HIE pair, "Man Of 1000 Faces" and "Invisible Man" bring the house down as they remind those in attendance back in 2011 and anyone listening today of the controlled majesty Marillion can provide.

If you've newly discovered, or rediscovered, Marillion through their recent, fabulous Fuck Everyone And Run album, or you've merely dabbled in their studio albums over the last few decades, then this is a wonderful way to have this band's true identity as a monstrously brilliant live act revealed to you. With this being the first of ten releases from the band's own label's huge live archive, it's going to be a heck of a journey and Holidays In Eden Live is a wonderful place to begin.

Track Listing
Disc 1 Friday - Holidays In Eden
1. Splintering Heart
2. Cover My Eyes
3. The Party
4. No One Can
5. Waiting To Happen
6. Holidays In Eden
7. Dry Land
8. This Town
9. The Rake's Progress
10. 100 Nights

Disc 2 Friday - Encores
1. How Can It Hurt
2. A Collection
3. Man Of A Thousand Faces
4. The Invisible Man

Added: March 4th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: marillion.com
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Language: english

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