Customer Reviews

Afraid Of Sunlight (With Bonus Disc)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remembering seeing Marillion during their first concert in Holland. And buying their first album, Script from a Jester's Tear, during a trip to Belgium soon afterwards.

This was the early 80's, and while there had had been a few bands that had tried to emulate - unsuccessfully! - groups like ELP and Yes, no-one had dared to even come close to the enigmatic and literary Genesis. Marillion did, with a vengeance. And with a spirit, originality and a raw emotional input which reflected the punk era that was only then evolving into more mature forms. This wasn't emulation, thank God, it was inspiration.

The driving force behind Marillion was, at that time, their singer, Fish. And so, when Fish left after the fourth studio album (Clutching at Straws), it was obviously all over.

Only it wasn't. Sure enough Marillion went on to release a few albums which were, in relative terms at least, totally dispensable (Seasons End and Holidays in Eden). But after the brave Brave came the extraordinary Afraid of Sunlight, an exceptionally beautiful album which I bought on a whim and only came to like - love, if you will - reluctantly. And as the songs grew on me, I had to accept that a new Marillion had been born. A warmer and more thoughtful group, and a very mature and intelligent band to boot. And better yet, a band which managed to produce that finest of elements in music: a sense of wonder, of magic, of being drawn into textures and sounds and words which are rewarding, which mean something.

There are few bands in the so-called "progressive music" niche these days which are worthwhile. That isn't surprising: this is the most challenging and difficult sort of music there is, and in our day and age, this sort of stuff is not commercially viable (unless you simply reproduce riffs and solos already recorded thirty years back, which most "prog" groups do). Marillion, however, steer well clear of such traps. From Brave - and certainly "Afraid" onwards - they have come into their own.

I very strongly recommend this album to anyone with a serious interest in music. That is, to anyone willing to accept that music isn't just something to listen to while doing something else, but something that in and of itself can be a wondrous experience. I didn't want to like this album, but I did. And I do. This is, simply put, Very Good Stuff.

Both EMI and Marillion were still reeling from the relative commercial disappointment of the "Brave" album. They thought it was a masterpiece (and right they were), but just couldn't understand how the world hadn't noticed. Racked by self-doubt and emotional turmoil, Marillion started recording "Afraid Of Sunlight". As Steve Hogarth says: 'There never has been an initial "vision", or a master plan ..Like the others, "Afraid Of Sunlight" was another product of flailing around in the darkness. I think it's the best record we've made'. This quote says it all.
On 24 bits it sounds great. Best songs are: Afraid Of Sunlight, Beyond You, King, Out Of This World and Beautiful. The bonus disc, however, is an interesing collectors item but does not add anything special.

The departure of Fish from Marillion back in 1988 left me sad at the time. His lyrics, voice and presence on stage were unique. The remaining members of the band knew that better that anyone, at it took them some time to find a proper substitute. But they ended up choosing well, as the quality of Marillion's music remained untouchable after more than 2 decades of existence.

This was the 4th album released with Steve Hogarth. On the previous 3, his influence on the band's direction grew gradually. In Seasons End was still reduced (naturally...), in Holidays In Eden we saw him introducing new sounds and different writing themes, and in Brave his integration on the band (and vice versa) was completed. Although I adore The Great Escape/Falling from the Moon & Made Again (from Brave), I prefer the first 2 works.

From this point of view, I think this was the moment were all contribution from the new member were best combined with Marillion trademark sounding. After this, they started searching for new directions, and I think they are being well succeeded (Marillion.com is a good example of that).

It's one of the few albums I listen from start to finish without having to advance a single song. Gazpacho and Cannibal Surf Babe open the album in a promising way and are followed by Beautiful. Each time I listen to this last track I get the feeling that, with proper promotion, it would have been Top10 in several charts (but that doesn't make a difference, does it?). The remaining songs are all quality pieces, specially the last 3 ones (title track, Beyond You and King). The final section of King is my highlight of the album.

For starters or old aficionados who lost contact with the band after the big poet's departure, this album has lots of chances to become a really good surprise.

This album took a while to grow on me, but when it did it hit hard and went home very quickly. This is probably, with Brave and Misplaced Childhood, Marillion's best album. It's incredible lyrically, amazingly unconventional in the band's use of sonic textures, and a great album to listen to, with the lights out, with nothing but a candle. This is an emotionally powerful journey through poetry and through the horrors of celebrity.

What an incredible modern-rock album! HUGE production, very dynamic, extended highs and incredibly deep bass (has to be at or under 30Hz in places). Unless you have a high-end stereo, you won't hear all of the music that is laid on this disc. Although this is not in-your-face-music, it sounds best at maximum volume because it packs a dynamic, emotional wallop. AOS combines the best elements of 60s/70s progressive rock, gives it edge and a kick in the behind. Steve Hogarth's voice has never sounded so clear, vibrant and intimate (well, except when I heard him live). It connects with the listener like few other albums this decade. The songwriting is much more focussed than the similar-sounding Brave. The Afraid of Sunrise-Out of this World-Afraid of Sunlight suite is possibly the most impressive string of tracks of any album I've heard this decade. Mark Kelly creates a lush, seeemingly endless wave of synths and strings that always seem to matter and never to show off. It is also obvious that Ian Mosley has refined his classical-styled drumming style to impressive heights on the album. Just listen to King. The only flaw I see with AOS is the odd Beach Boyesque track Cannibal Surf Babe that doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the album. YMMV. Overall, AOS is a very mature album from the best cult band across the pond. It shows just how talented these guys are. Albums like this demonstrate most of the best, vital rock music is never obvious nor on the radio.

Marillion may just be one of the most overlooked bands of the late 20th century, if not THE most overlooked. The real tragedy is that so many people continue to think of Marillion in terms of arty progressive rock like ELP, jester outfits, and a modest stateside hit in 1985's "Kayleigh".

To be sure, this album was quite shocking to a lot of Marillion fans when it was originally released in 95. Shocking due to a subtle low key direction, and a slightly Americanized sound (the Beach Boys and Motown influences are hardly subtle). But with a few more listens many of those fans were converted. This is definitely a CD that demands time and effort. The band had said they were so exhausted after the recording of their last effort, Brave. When it failed commercially, they were perplexed, they thought Brave was such genius (which it was). So what we have here is a band going into the studio, fresh out of ideas, somewhat lost, but again with genius producer Dave Meegan. The result is a loose, drifting, collection of songs that achieve genius levels at so many times. Out of This World is aptly titled. Awash in delay and chorus, the song is a work of sheer genius. Just imagine yourself floating on your back in a pool on a warm summer night below a starry sky, the memories and dreams of your life floating through your head. It's the only way I can describe this song. Beyond You is an emotionally tormented piece that contains vocalist Steve Hogarth's most impassioned singing. You get the feeling in the song he is at the end of his rope, tormented and desperate but yet exhausted and almost to the point of giving up. One of the most transcendant pieces of music I have ever heard. I would have to say, after all is said and done, that this is my favorite Marillion album, and my favorite album of the 90's. Other highlights are Gazpacho and King.

Anyone who loves music and is reading this, you simply MUST purchase this CD. When Marillion where unable to tour the states in 97, fans raised $40,000 over the internet out of their own pockets so they could tour. This is how much this band means to people, and how passionately they are loved. Music as great as this demands the same kind of love and passion as Dave Matthews gets from his mass audience in the states.

This is, in my opinion, the best Marillion album to include h (Steve Hogarth) on vocals. It's also one of their most consistent albums in the sense that only 'Beyond you' could be labeled as sub-par in comparison with the rest of the tracks.

Most of the tracks are *monster* pieces, some of the very best the band has penned so far, including 'Gazpacho', 'Beautiful' (the feel good, slow-ish track of the album), 'Afraid of sunlight' and 'King'. I believe that in no other tracks have h's lyrics and the lads' music merged so well as in the above list.

Completing the album is 'Cannibal surf babe' (the *required* weird track) and 'Afraid of sunrise', both of which are also quite, quite good.

As for the second CD, it contains mostly demos and outtakes, as well as 'Icon' and 'Live forever', two b-sides from the album's singles. There's also a different version of 'Beautiful' (with it's working title 'Second chance').

If you looking for a Marillion Album; get this one! With Steve H. truly integrated into the band; they have produced a great range of tracks [showing the wide range of influences on the members].
From the great intro track of Gazpacho, into the California [Cannibal] Surf babe, followed by Beautiful [a number one in Brazil] and the two tracks I really love; Afraid of Sunrise & Afraid of Sunlight.
This is Marillion at their very Best!

The album Afraid of Sunlight represents a new Marillion. The album Brave proved that Steve Hogarth was a worthy replacer of the legendary Fish. Now there is Afraid of Sunlight, an illustration that Marillion can do more then just the prog-rock things. Marillion makes it groovy and cool with Aos. Hang out on the beach with Cannibal Surf Babe, relax with Beautiful, enjoy summer with Afraid of Sunlight and, last but not least, try to imagine what great artist the song King tributes to... Have fun listening and play it over and over again!!!

Without a showdow of a doubt, Afraid of Sunlight is Steve Hogarth's masterpiece as Marillion's frontman. Throw influences like The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Yes and Phil Spector in a bag, mix and stir with Marillion's unique sound and the gorgeous production of David Meegan, and you have a modern rock classic that ought to sit on everyone's shelves. Hailed as a "near work of Genius" by Britain's leading music magazine "Q", it's an album that is worth the effort and one you'll return to, time and again. END