Published on Nov 8, 2000
Back in April, you may remember we took a look at
Reel To Real, the first live EP from Brit prog-rockers
Marillion. Around that time, I made the promise that we would look
at
Brief Encounter, a second mini-album released to capitalize
on the sudden fame the band found in America – and I had the record
sitting next to the stereo, ready to be reviewed.
Little did I know that
Brief Encounter, packaged with
Reel To Real, was re-issued by Sanctuary, the same label
responsible for the Marillion re-issues we’ve been talking about
here all year. (Thanks to Mark for the disc; now that was a
pleasant surprise!)
This, however, brings me to a new challenge: how should this be
reviewed? Do I take a second look at
Reel To Real, ignoring the fact we just talked about it
seven months ago? The answer is actually simple: I stand by what I
gave
Reel To Real back in April, and we’ll focus on the five
songs that make up
Brief Encounter today. Maybe I’ll try to give a combined
rating, if you’re still on the fence about whether or not to buy
this.
Actually, if you’ve been investing in the re-issues up to
Misplaced Childhood, you already own two-fifths of
Brief Encounter. The two singles, “Lady Nina” and “Freaks,”
were included on
Misplaced Childhood‘s bonus disc. That said, they are
pleasant enough songs which just don’t seem like they would have
fit the storyline that Fish and company were trying to lay out on
Misplaced Childhood. Still, it’s hard just to toss away a
good song, and if
Brief Encounter was the vehicle to get them out to their
fans, all the better.
The remaining tracks again put Fish and company onstage – a
position they would share for a third time just two albums later on
The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra), which would be Fish’s
farewell to the band… but we’re getting a bit ahead of the story,
now. (Side note: If you count the CD that came with the video of
Live From Loreley, then we’d have four live outings from
Marillion.)
You can’t help but be awestruck at the live rendition of
“Kayleigh”, still quite possibly the prettiest track this band has
ever recorded. Hearing the audience sing along with part of the
chorus with the power that they do might catch you off-guard, but
it definitely shows the impact the band made just three albums into
their career. It’s a heartwarming moment, and it translates well to
the stage.
The remaining two tracks – title tracks from
Fugazi and
Script For A Jester’s Tear – probably were meant to lure new
fans in 1986 into picking up Marillion’s backcatalog. But for some
reason, “Fugazi” doesn’t deliver the goods nearly as well as
“Script For A Jester’s Tear,” though both sound good when compared
to their studio brethren. And you really can’t fault the selection
of these tracks; it might have been suicide to fall back on
“Assassing” and “Market Square Heroes” so quickly. Maybe they could
have selected “She Chameleon” instead, or thrown it on as an
additional bonus.
Is
Brief Encounter required owning? Honestly, no – but that
doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to listen to. This was a release
that was meant to both tide the fans over as well as win new
attention to their earlier releases. Even today, I’d probably call
this one a “for the fans” release – but if you happened to come
across an old vinyl copy for a buck or so, and you had never heard
Marillion before, it would be worth your money to pick it up.
Paired up with
Reel To Real, you have the ultimate Fish-era “for the fans”
pack – and a definite “B” effort all around, if you add in the
first live EP.
Brief Encounter is still enjoyable, but a shade weaker.