[Review] Marillion – Less Is More

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Marillion – Less Is More
Eagle Records (12/8/09)
Progressive rock

Less Is More, the sixteenth album from UK-based prog-rockers Marillion, is a moody, acoustic introspective of tunes taken from past albums dating back to the late ’80s. Vocalist Steve Hogarth and company sometimes tour under the moniker “Los Trios Marillos”, performing acoustic sets of music from years passed, so they are not exactly strangers when it comes to dialing down the volume and tone.

“Wrapped Up In Time” and “The Space” definitely carry the kind of dark, slightly moody tone for which Marillion is known. The band also re-works three tunes from its experimental Anoraknophobia record, in which they dabbled in acid jazz. These songs include “Quartz”, “This Is the 21st Century” and “If My Heart Were a Ball”, though they all seem to consequently lose their modern feel due to the new acoustic arrangements.

And honestly, a lot of the album doesn’t seem to work at times because of this stripped down formula. For a band that’s been known for dynamic build-ups that include synthesizer and electric guitar, that certain vibe tends to get lost in translation during these more simplistic, acoustic versions.

Less Is More isn’t a complete bust by any means, but rather a more complex listen. It’s fair to say that a lot of Marillion fans will be divided on this one. Personally, I judge it song by song; so I’ve been giving each tune a fair shake. Others might not be so fair.

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