Customer Reviews

Vol. 1-Happiness Is the Road: Essence

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Happiness is the Road is the latest release from one of the most under-reported bands in the music business today. Their 15th release, HITR is two separate albums. Volume 1 (Essence) is a concept album with a sparkling sample of pop, progressive-rock, soul and blues influences(just to name a few!). The tracks flow together seamlessly, in and out of various moods from dreamlike, intimate introspection through all out pop anthems. The theme that ties all these varying influences together is one of self-discovery and spirituality - about slowing down our increasingly blinding speed of daily life and grasping all the little miraculous moments that we let slip by us unaware. It's a huge accomplishment, lyrically rich and musically complex. Already receiving rave reviews amongst hardcore Marillion fans (a demanding bunch!) based on the online pre-release that garnered headlines around the world.

I personally found Trap the Spark and State of Mind to be the instant highlights. But after only a couple of spins, I now find it difficult not to start right off the top and enjoy what is - essentially - a 45 minute symphonic opus that starts off quietly and repeatedly builds up layers until it strips everything down naked before rising again to another emotional climax. The whole adventure peaks with the 11-minute title track "Happiness is the Road" which tells the whole story of how the album's theme was born out of a personal experience with a doctor, a book, and a stressed out rock star. Honest, inspiring and magnificent.

I also strongly believe that Happiness is the Road is one of Marillion's most beautiful-sounding releases with a lush, layered production quality that is highly dynamic. And by all measures, one of their most accessible albums that showcases the full talents of these five extraordary artists. Destined to be a classic in the Marillion canon, and may be the one that gets them the broader attention they truly deserve.

This is Marillion's 15th album, in their 30th year as a band. If you've ever been to a concert by a band that old, you'll remember that the crowd goes crazy for the old classics, and heads for the bar for a drink the second someone says "this is a song from our new album."

Marillion is the exception to that rule. Especially ths year. I can't recall a new album getting so much praise from the fans, and I can guarantee people are waiting eagerly to hear this new material live.

But at the same time, this is (yet again) different than anything they've done before. The sound this time is lush and rich, with gorgeous keyboards from Mark Kelly. Steve Hogarth's lyrics are deeply personal, dealing with his newfound ability to seize a moment and not live in the past or the future. Fans of Steve Rothery's heroic guitar will find moments to enjoy, too, although he spends just as much time being part of the soundscape rather than playing above it. That, to me, is the great strength here - all the sounds are working together, and the result is breathtaking. Michael Hunter's production deserves some kind of award.

The first disc, Essence, draws from all kinds of influences. There are Pink Floydian moments, soul moments, reggae moments, Vangelis moments... it's a strange journey. But it's coherent, sweet, and inspiring. Very highly recommended for any fan of rock music that reaches higher than a back beat and a cool riff.

I have not heard Marillion sound better.

RESONATE? What are you talking about, you ask? Well, I made the initial mistake of listening to "Happiness" by playing a couple tracks, here and there, in the car, at work, with no continuity. The result was a lukewarm appreciation...nonchalance. I was a bit disappointed....UNTIL: having the immense fortune of living close to a range of the Italian alps, how could I not be a cyclist??? On one of my 5 hour excursions, I MP3'd both CD's and hit the hills...and slowly, slowly after the second or third play, I started to RESONATE....a term that describes a state achieved when an outside force (wind, sound, light) causes a system to oscillate at a maximum ..it's in tune with it's natural vibrational frequency..think of a bridge swaying in the wind, the silky hum from a wine glass as you rub the rim..that kind of resonance. As humans, we have such a natural frequency..mechanical, emotional, whatever...it's that that instant (albeit ephemeral) that, for some reason, you feel that all is good around you..you are truly at peace, happy. And who the hell knows why??? "Happiness" brought me to that state..which made me realize that these CD's work when you play them continuously, non stop...before I knew it, I found myself on top of one of the peaks..I knew I had suffered but the music dulled the pain..I was resonating. "Happiness" works..it flows, it's gentle but poignant..It's a beautiful CD..period.

Why not 5 stars?? Well, all my fellow drummers would pose the same question..what's going on with Mosley?? Is this the same drummer on "Slainte", "Easter", "White Russian"???? Not much creativity anymore...at the long ending of the title track, for example, he could have done so much, much more. I agree that perhaps the songs require less, still..they could do with some percussive color. Just look as Katche when he drums. I want the old Ian back..desperately.

And Rothery...like Clapton, Santana, Johnson, he has a style recognizable from miles away. We need more classic Rothery. I miss those poignant, heart ripping, soaring solos..Easter, Great Escape..man, goosebumps just thinking about it.

Ok, I'm done...buy both CD's, devote some time to them and you'll understand.

I have had my two cents rolling around in my pocket for the last few months and have decided it's time to share the wealth. This year marks my 23rd year in the Marillion fold. There have been very few low moments in this relationship. We keep going because this band has integrity, and you know it. I have given myself 2 months to absord this release. I was lucky enough to order if a year in advance and get the whole thing at once. I simply can't fault this band for not relying on formula everytime the go in the studio. They have been trying to break the shakles of the "progressive" label for many years now and for good reason. This is not a progressive rock band, rather a band that contains that element PLUS many other elements. I don't believe any person can listen to this once or twice and cast judgement. This has to be absorbed. Tote it around with you for a month and then make a decision. I find this to be haunting and beautiful. It has a dud or two... Most discs do. A band tends to absorb itself in it's current creation and often missed the flaws when all is said and done. That being said, this one reached me and continues to reach me. Once person said that in order to appreciate this album, you must listen to it in one take. I disagree. Although I do believe this is the BEST way to appreciate it, I found that after going through it all at once about 3 times, breaking it up into individual songs allowed the whole to be more cohesive.

No need to go on here. If you are a fan of this band, you should appreciate this one, it's special. I DON'T suggest you give this one to a Marillion virgin, this one is for us, the lifers.

In a year or so I can see myself boosting this review to 5 stars. Enjoy them while you can, it can't go on forever. After they are gone, you will have your Spocks Beards and the like who create the same album over and over.

I'm a Marillion fan. Didn't love all of the last album, "Somewhere Else," but really love "Marbles" and the early stuff.
"Essence" first hit me as kind of wandering and too mellow. After several listens over the past month, it's revealed itself to me.
It's beautiful, wonderful, life-enriching music--and it keeps getting better and better with each listen.
I absolutely love every part of it and heartily recommend you get into it.

Marillion's latest endeavour involves a 2 volume set, the first of which is "Essence". This volume is the more mellow of the two and apparently is based around Steve Hogarth's visit to a doctor in Utrecht, Netherlands back on the last tour, after he was suffering from exhaustion. Instead of prescribing drugs, the doctor suggested a certain book to read and to focus on the present, while not worrying about the past or future. Sounds heavy, right?

"This Train Is My Life" is classic Marillion and quite an enjoyable way to begin the CD after the short piano piece, "Dreamy Street". Each song here runs into one another and has a real jam-like vibe and improvised quality to it. There are great atmospheric sounds that pervade thoughout "Wrapped Up In Time", "Liquidity" and "Trap The Spark", while (dare I say it) a soulful Marillion carries "Nothing Fills The Hole".

The real gem of this CD is the title track, which begins in true Marillion form - just keys and Hogarth carrying it along...although somewhat mumbling at times. The song suddenly moves into a great reggae feel once the band kicks in. Yes, you've heard me now say soul and reggae during this review....are you sure this is Marillion? Yes it is...a more mature Marillion indeed. After this fantastic track comes to an end, the band decided to include a hidden track (Half-Full Jam) which brings Volume 1 to a satisfying conclusion.

Is it the best thing they've ever done? No. However I'm happy to say that although Volume 1 has a concept attached to it, the CD sounds nothing like Marbles or Brave. It is its own entity and you have to love the band for that.

The problem with the kind of music Marillion creates is that it takes some time to sink in, but once it does...magic! When I first heard the album, I was slightly disappointed. 2004's 'Marbles' was crammed with excellent stuff and its follow up 'Somewhere else', though containing some filler, has been escalating my personal chart quite fast.

I was constantly telling myself "What's this hype all about Happiness is the road?" After repeated listenings over a number of weeks I started to understand. The music is mild yet deep with an underlying beauty hard to describe. The first cd should be listened in one go. Individual songs don't sum up the effect of the piece as a whole. The title track is obviously a standout and the songs 'Essence', 'Wrapped up in time', 'State of mind' and 'Trap the spark' are very very good. I wished the chorus of 'Nothing fills the hole' was longer but you can't have everything, can you?

Unfortunately, many seek the initial impact of music - quick thrill, but after a few listens, a song is quickly forgotten. This album is the complete opposite. Great stuff takes time to settle in. This album is no exception.

Marillion is in an enviable position: they have no record label telling them what to do. Thus, in their own wisdom, they just make the records they want, whatever happens during the recording process. This time they have created enough material for 2 separate and distinct releases, both titled HAPPINESS IS THE ROAD: ESSENCE (Volume 1) and THE HARD SHOULDER (Volume 2). ESSENCE is the moodier of the two, full of the great emotional sort of music Marillion can make. If there is a theme, it's about life and living.

In "This Train Is My Life," Steve Hogarth comments on the speed of modern life, singing "This train is my life, Speeding through the night, We have been to these places, For barely a moment." In "Essence" he implores us to "Get out of here, Get out while you can, Choose life, strive for essence." Marillion is certainly the thinking man's band. But rather than being preachy, Hogarth's lyrics are observational. The band has been around the world numerous times and they are still here, after many other bands have succumbed to the excesses and distress of being in a band. In "Happiness Is The Road," H implores that "Happiness ain't at the end of the road, Happiness IS the road." Indeed. Highly recommended for fans old & new. (c) 2008 Michael Bettine

Having been underwhelmed with Marbles and then hearing only the insipidly banal Most Toys from the Somewhere Else album, I feared that Marillion had lost it completely. As a result I never have picked up Somewhere Else and was not planning to acquire this two record set either. I have had so many good years of listening to Marillion from Script of a Jester's Tear right on through to Marbles that I figured I could be satisfied that they used to be a uniquely talented and creative band and that their back catalog could keep me in good stead for years to come.

However, something prompted me to see what they were up to via YouTube and I found that I actally liked what I was hearing, contrary to expectations. So I was fortunate enough to find both volumes of HITR in pristine shape at a used record store and bought them both. How auspicious!!! Volume 1: Essence finds them in the finest form since Afraid of Sunlight (my favorite) or the earlier Brave which so elegantly consolidated their many superior talents that to me it serves as a sort of template for how truly great Marillion albums are built. This record is spun from the gossamer substance that forms the substrate for that template. It is a substantiation of the subtle and sublime that only Marillion can muster in modern pop music. All the texture and beauty that you have come to enjoy in their work is here in a fresh and rich presentation.

Essence is a series of songs that hang together so naturally and warmly that even the spaces between the tunes can be appreciated as a positive part of the whole. Where Marbles supeficially fit the structural mold it came off feeling contrived and artificial. I think the lads are in tune with this because Essence recaptures the depth and purity somehow missing there. And this work is so aptly and tellingly titled. Here is Marillion in all their glorious splendor, at the height of their abilities. Nuanced and powerful. With this release one of the most important bands of the last half century has proven that they will be one of the most important bands of this new century. If you have any doubts...see them live! So thank you gentlemen. You have unequivocally and irrevocably banished my fear...and man am I feeling HAPPY!

For more than 20 years now that Marillion is my favourite band, surviving many years ago from the change of a great lead singer and always keeping their sound actual but with a trademark easily recognised by any fan. Plus, you feel the passion with which they still work on any new album and that means a lot.
Yet, between the late 90's until the release of Marbles in 2004, they produced some albums that - although having always songs at their best level in each one of them, didn't reach the level they were able to put out in the past. With a discography of already 15 original albums, I know that it would be impossible to enjoy all at the same level but I was not sure what to expect with this double-album. Now, enjoying the 2 volumes of "Happiness Is the Road" as I do, I must apologise Marillion for all the previous question-marks. They were truly inspired for releasing so many songs and they were able to produce another work I put on my top of preferences.
The opening song for all this is very quiet, basically with Kelly's piano and Hogarth's voice, but then comes "This Train is my Life" and you immediately feel that this got to be a great album. Plus, if you love as I do the sound from Steven Rothery's guitar, this track marks the debut for many spectacular moments of it throughout the album.
The 2 volumes are highly homogeneous, both on a same level of quality, and I will only mention on volume I Essence the superb and discrete song in the middle "Nothing Fills the Hole" and, on volume II The Hard Shoulder, the 2 epics from the space, "The Man from the Planet Marzipan" and "Asylum Satellite #1", always the sort of songs hard to resist for any Marillion hard-fan.