Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Marillion
Label: EMI Records
Released: 1997
Runtime: 83:37
Rating: 4/5
»Real to Reel/Brief Encounter« is a double compilation album put together by British neo prog/art rock champions Marillion, released in 1997. Disc one holds their first official live album, »Real to Reel«, which originally came out in 1984 and was recorded at a show in Montreal, Canada, while the »Brief Encounter« tracks were captured at a gig in Leicester, England. »Real to Reel« is famous for featuring the first officially released (live) versions of the classics »Cinderella Search« and »Market Square Heroes«, which had previously only come out as singles, so they were a mystery to any Marillion fan who only knew the first two studio albums, »Script For a Jester’s Tear« (1983) and »Fugazi« (1984).
The setlist on »Real to Reel« is devoted to those same two records, and it’s an incredibly precious document of the early neo prog rock era, when the lead vocals were handled by the charismatic Scottish giant Fish. Even after the reissue, the sound quality on »Real to Reel« is nothing to write home about, but the tracklist is all the more delicious for it, since the opening masterpiece »Asssassing« already announces an exceptionally strong selection of Marillion classics. The darkly atmospheric »Incubus« stays faithful to the studio original with only minimal deviations, while Fish, who back then was often in what we might call ‘special states of intoxicating dependence’ — the very place he drew most of his lyrical and songwriting inspiration from — dedicates »Cinderella Search« to all the ‘drunken romantics’ in the crowd.
Fish is Fish; always a complete story in himself and one of the most charismatic frontmen of all time, so it’s no big surprise that he shines from the first second to the last in every live performance. His bandmates were just as impressively on form over these two nights, so it’s very hard to single anyone out. Well, maybe a special mention goes to the then brand-new drummer Ian Mosley, who came with plenty of live experience from previous bands and, with his complex drumming technique and broad command of percussive finesse, made sure fans didn’t mourn the original drummer Mick Pointer (now of Arena) too much.
The convincing run through the »Fugazi« classics continues with »Emerald Lies«, where Fish once again shines with a heart-wrenching, thoroughly introspective performance, while his comrades follow him energetically with plenty of complex instrumental variations and clever tempo shifts. The then still wet-behind-the-ears Rothery is practically bursting with the urge to prove himself during his guitar solos, while Trewavas, weaving complex, accentuated bass lines, proves he’s a slowly rising bass guitar gem. Kelly is as brilliant as ever when laying down vivid keyboard textures. The pacifist classic »Forgotten Sons« is a triumphant, melodramatic and fiercely emotional return to the debut »Script For a Jester’s Tear«.
»Garden Party« is a party piece that was always meant first and foremost for the audience, so it’s no surprise that a rowdy atmosphere takes over during its performance, in sharp contrast to the melodramatic and often gloomy nature of most of their other songs from this period. Fish hands one of the closing verses entirely over to the crowd, who belt out the infamous word ‘fucking’ especially loudly. The rousing »Market Square Heroes«, their first released single from 1982 and one of the most relived moments of »Real to Reel«, gets stretched this time to more than seven minutes with some improvisation at the end.
The second disc contains the mini EP »Brief Encounter«, which originally came out in 1986 for promotional purposes during the band’s American tour at the time. That’s why the original version was released on Capitol Records, which covered the American market, meaning it was a big rarity in Europe for years. It features two studio tracks and three live classics. »Lady Nina« came out as a single in 1986, though to be honest it’s actually the weakest song of the Fish era, a second-rate pop rock number with repetitive use of a drum machine. »Freaks« is a slightly better effort, although it doesn’t rank among the highlights of their career either. The single version of its live take came out in 1988.
The three live performances recorded at the Leicester show are all the more interesting, even though most people long assumed they were recorded at the famous Hammersmith Odeon in the heart of London. Back then, thanks to the conceptual masterpiece »Misplaced Childhood« (1985), Marillion were at the peak of their commercial success and, besides their own headline shows in big halls, were opening for Canadian art rock giants Rush on their »Power Windows« tour, so the crowd response was correspondingly even louder. All three performances are dreamlike, and on top of that they’re practically the most beloved classics of the Fish era among most fans, led by a brilliant version of their biggest hit »Kayleigh«, followed by phenomenal live versions of the evergreen epics »Fugazi« and »Script For a Jester’s Tear«. At the end of the latter, Fish clearly thanks the Leicester crowd, so there’s no doubt where these three live performances come from.
»Real to Reel/Brief Encounter« is an important historical compilation for all longtime Marillion devotees, especially those who fondly remember all their classics with the unforgettable Scottish giant on vocals. This chronologically quite overdue release, despite what it may look like, was not part of the series of reissues of the first eight studio albums, which came out again at the end of the nineties under EMI.
Lineup
Fish – vocals
Steve Rothery – guitar
Pete Trewavas – bass
Mark Kelly – keyboards
Ian Mosley – drums
Production
Marillion
Tracklist
CD1 (52:06)
1. Assassing (7:28)
2. Incubus (8:45)
3. Cinderella search (5:46)
4. Emerald lies (5:26)
5. Forgotten sons (10:36)
6. Garden party (6:32)
7. Market Square heroes (7:31)
CD2 (31:31)
1. Lady Nina (5:47)
2. Freaks (4:09)
3. Kayleigh (4:11)
4. Fugazi (8:32)
5. Script for a Jester’s tear (8:52)
