Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Marillion
Label: EMI Records
Release: 1990
Length: 14:35
Rating: 5/5
Of all the power ballads British prog rock giants Marillion have made so far, “Easter” holds a very special place. In terms of atmosphere and emotion, it’s the richest piece on the cult fifth studio album “Seasons End” (1989), and the cherry on top with which the then brand-new singer Steve Hogarth finally managed to win over the unconvinced and capture the hearts of the many fans who just couldn’t get over the departure of his predecessor Fish.
This gorgeous, idealistic ballad, which touches on Northern Ireland’s struggle for independence while also applauding the natural and folkloric beauty of the ‘Emerald Isle’ (an unusual but highly commendable move from this legendary English band), is without a doubt one of the finest things they’ve ever done, so it’s no surprise it was picked as the third single from the aforementioned studio album. Shining in all their glory here are above all guitar maestro Steve Rothery, with his delicate playing of acoustic and later slide guitar and his brilliant use of arpeggios, and Hogarth, who delivers it with immense pathos.
The unsurpassed atmosphere is lifted even higher by Kelly’s layered keyboard curtains, the backing vocals and Rothery’s phenomenal slide solo, one of the most subtle of his career. That’s followed by a superb outro courtesy of H’s dramatic, majestic vocals, gorgeous riffs and deep layers of keyboards, which together create a hypnotic melody and a dreamy mood that lifts the listener above the clouds in an instant and gives them a fresh push even in those moments when it feels like nothing is going the way it should. The promo video, in which the band members find themselves amid Northern Irish folkloric and natural landmarks, is also one of the most aesthetically pleasing in their story.
The CD version of the single also included a live version of the classic “The Uninvited Guest” and the excellent “The Release”, perhaps even the most beloved Marillion bonus track ever, since they still pull it out live every now and then even today. “The Release” is a classic pop rock energy catalyst whose rhythmic side has a lot in common with some creations of the Gilmour-era Pink Floyd (“Take It Back”) and with early U2 too. You could say it’s a kind of window onto the stylistic direction of their next album, “Holidays In Eden” (1991). Some 12-inch vinyl versions had, instead of “The Release”, live renditions of “Warm Wet Circles”, a classic from “Clutching at Straws” (1987), and “That Time of the Night”, already with Mr. H on vocals, of course.
“Easter”, one of the most beautiful ballads in rock history, cemented Steve Hogarth once and for all as a truly one-of-a-kind vocal authority, once the rest of Marillion fully realized just how important his arrival was for the band’s further artistic development. Quite a few inconsolable Fish loyalists, who couldn’t imagine a future for Marillion without him, were still left even after this. But in the following years, as the band finally waved goodbye to neo prog rock, they steadily lost momentum and convincing arguments.
Lineup
Steve Hogarth – vocals
Steve Rothery – guitar
Mark Kelly – keyboards
Pete Trewavas – bass
Ian Mosley – drums
Production
Nick Davis and Marillion
Track list
1. Easter
2. The Release
3. The Uninvited Guest (live)
