CD Review: Marillion--Live From Loreley

This live album was recorded on June 18, 1987 at the Frelichtsbuhne, a famous amphitheater located in Oberhausen, Germany on the banks of the Rhine River, Live from Loreley had been released on VHS by EMI back in the '80s, and again on DVD five years ago. However, this 2CD issue, part of an ongoing series of live Marillion remasters, features the Fish-era version of Marillion in full flight in front of an enthusiastic audience.

From the opening chords of "Slainte Mhath", the band barrels forward into a set covering most of their classic cuts from the first four albums. Fish is in excellent vocal form, spitting verbal venom on "Assassing", teen angst on "Script for a Jester's Tear" and regret in the moving "Sugar Mice". However, his stage patter is mostly in German.

The second disc opens with the three-part suite that starts Clutching at Straws and a complete performance of the first side of Misplaced Childhood. A roaring "Incommunicado" closes the show. The encores, consisting of fan favorites "Garden Party" and "Market Square Heroes", are exuberant, and are two of the four previously unreleased tracks included in the package.

Steve Rothery plays gorgeous, soaring lines--his solo on this version of "Heart of Lothian" bursts out of the speakers. Mark Kelly adds textures with his keyboards with the occasional Keith Emerson-inspired chromatic run, and Pete Trewavas does double duty with backing vocals on most of the songs along with his nimble, driving bass playing.

Ian Mosely is one of the stars of this album, watching him play on the previously-released DVD of this show, one is amazed that such thunderous sound can come forth from his laconic movements. For many of the Clutching dates, the band was accompanied by backup singe Cori Josias, and she provides capable support for Fish.

All the elements of a classic Marillion set are present here--if you want to hear what the band sounded like on a great night just before the big man quit, then this is definitely worth hearing. If you can find a copy of the DVD, the show is worth seeing too.