Marillion
Fugazi


4.5
superb

Review

by Fernando Alves STAFF
July 23rd, 2012 | 145 replies


Release Date: 1984 | Tracklist

Review Summary: "Fugazi" is an excellent product of its time and remains one of the top quality progressive rock albums to be created in the '80s.

Formed in Aylesbury, England, in 1979, Marillion is arguably one of the most interesting and successful progressive rock bands of the '80s. Often considered one of the founders of the Neo-Progressive genre, the band released four albums between 1983-1987 that quickly gained a cult status within the demanding prog circuit. Influenced by '70s acts such as Genesis (Gabriel era), Yes or Pink Floyd, Marillion issued their critically acclaimed debut "Script for a Jester's Tear" in 1983, an album that blends Genesis' early baroque languages with the rock flavours of the early '80s. Steve Rothery's melodic guitar lines layered by Fish's poetic lyrics and theatrical vocal performance were the key musical elements in shaping Marillion's sound into a distinctive identity, placing the band on pole position within the emerging British Neo-Progressive scene.

One year later the band released their highly anticipated second album titled "Fugazi". With a harder edge than its predecessor the album can be seen as "Script's" natural evolution. All ingredients are still present, Fish's impressive vocal dynamics and Rothery's very unique guitar signature are still leading the way, supported by Mark Kelly's colorful keyboards and Peter's always solid bass lines. But it's new recruitment Ian Mosley that delivers the most significant improvement to the band's sound, with his refined technique providing the perfect background for Marillion's progressive melodic songwriting, allowing the rhythm section to move more freely.
The album opener "Assassing" is the perfect introduction to what the listener should expect from Marillion's sophomore release. A combination of straightforward rock with progressive and passionate textures. This more hard rock approach is present in almost all of the songs on this album, however this new reinvigorated energy is smartly balanced by smoother ambiences, creating a strong sense of direction throughout this recording.
Fish's provocative and enigmatic lyrics remain Marillion's most distinctive trademark. From religious cults and First World War references such as "Who decorates the scarf with the fugi knot, who camouflaged emotion in a thousand yard stare" to Irish folklore metaphors "World war three, suburbanshee, just slip her these pills and I'll be free", every word and sentence is manipulated to shape some cryptic meaning that leads to multiple interpretations. But Marillion's greatest achievement on "Fugazi" is the ability to place these complex lyrics on a song-based musical structure, avoiding the long compositions of their progressive counterparts. Swinging between layers delivered by Kelly's chromatic keyboards and Rothery's beautiful guitar lines, the songwriting is well structured and meticulously balanced, with everything in its right place. From stylish rock moments such as "Assassing", "Punch and Judy" or "Jigsaw", to more delicate and crescendo compositions like "Emerald Lies", "She Chameleon", "Incubus" or "Fugazi", this album is full of life and offers the listener an extremely diverse listening experience.

The following year saw the release of their magnum opus "Misplaced Childhood", nevertheless "Fugazi" is by no means a transitional work. It's an excellent product of its time and remains one of the top quality progressive rock albums to be created in the '80s.



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user ratings (248)
4
excellent

Comments:Add a Comment 
TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
July 23rd 2012


19009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Guys I hope you like this Marillion review.

I also want to thank Davey for his help on the grammar and text structures.



If you don’t know this band or album if you wish take a look:



Assassing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqqkR2vqUZ8



Punch and Judy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWrwYsSt6OE



Jigsaw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0e042ZZnCw



Emerald Lies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-XPNZxA7Mk



She Chameleon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aEFAqR_lVc



Incubus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S01SuU4aiKk



Fugazi – Album highlight in my opinion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVGHQxWWCyg



JamieTwort
July 23rd 2012


26988 Comments


Excellent review Notrap, pos'd.

I haven't listened to this one for a long time and to be honest I think I've only heard it once. Definitely need to recheck it.

TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
July 23rd 2012


19009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Thanks JT.



Yeah you need to recheck this album asap. Excellent piece of music.



If you wish check the title track, awesome stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVGHQxWWCyg

JamieTwort
July 23rd 2012


26988 Comments


Listening now. Great song.

TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
July 23rd 2012


19009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Yeah, really love that epic ending.

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
July 23rd 2012


10909 Comments


Good review, pos.

I want to listen to the '90s period of this band sometime.


Only one thing: Separate the text into discrete paragraphs.

ZedO
July 23rd 2012


1096 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

enjoying this, especially that song named jigsaw..

LifeAsAChipmunk
July 23rd 2012


4852 Comments


I'm listening now and I really dig the production, which is odd because that's what usually pushes me away from older albums.

omnipanzer
July 23rd 2012


21827 Comments


There is a lot about these guys that I love on paper but by simple virtue of coming about in the time frame they did I just cannot dig their sound.

Great review NoTrap POS.

TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
July 23rd 2012


19009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

@Voivod

Thanks man. Yeah that middle text is probably a little bit too long, but it didn't feel right to make a paragraph in between...



@ZedO

Rothery's solo on that song is really awesome.



@LifeAsAChipmunk

The production is cool indeed.



@Omni

Thanks sir. Yeah I know, too many synths...Please remember, it's the '80s. :-)



linguist2011
July 23rd 2012


2656 Comments


This album seems to be overlooked a lot by the media, especially when reviewing marillion's full catalogue. 'Fugazi' is indeed an excellent album though, and I feel as if it contains some of Fish's more dramatic and theatrical language (as is extremely evident on his solo works). Lovely review, it certainly should convince those who haven't heard of the band before to at least buy this album.

TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
July 23rd 2012


19009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

@linguist2011

Thanks man. I really hope so, this band is deeply overlooked.



Thanks Captain.

MO
July 23rd 2012


24100 Comments


fuck yes m/

ZedO
July 23rd 2012


1096 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

hell yeah, listening to it for second time now...

omnipanzer
July 23rd 2012


21827 Comments


"Thanks sir. Yeah I know, too many synths...Please remember, it's the '80s. :-)"

Yah, my point exactly ;^)

KjSwantko
July 23rd 2012


12203 Comments


Nice work, Trap.

TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
July 23rd 2012


19009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

@MetallicOpeth

m/ hard



@Kj

Thanks man. If you wish check some of the links above.

Steve Rothery has some really nice solos on Jigsaw and Incubus. Very melodic lines.

Jethro42
July 23rd 2012


18281 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Album rules. Glad to see this being covered. Gonna read your review later, bro.

MaidenUFO
July 23rd 2012


168 Comments


Great work Notrap as always...I need to check the band's discography!

Jethro42
July 23rd 2012


18281 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yes, great review indeed. 'Emerald Lies' has to be my fave on here.

For those who are interested, here's a Marillion's top 30 list;

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?memberid=280733&listid=99950



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