After the success of both 'Anoraknophobia' and 'Marbles' Marillion's next move was to release an EP based on leftovers from the latter album. So if Fate had played the cards differently 'Somewhere Else', the Marillo's 14th studio album would never have been. However, after completing the five intended songs, conceived over a long period of time due to tours for Marillion and various side projects of some members, the EP format was shelved. None of the compositions were deemed radio-friendly which made the EP pointless in the eyes of the band, so it was back to the drawing board again.
For a while Marillion was going nowhere fast but all of a sudden creativity started to flow and eventually, before anyone knew it, 'Somewhere Else' was ready. But not without some degree of controversy. This time around no pre-order version was available and only a single-disc was released. This did not fare well with the faithful who felt cheated from not participating, like they were shunned from the family. A compromise was reached however as a CD/DVD option was set-up and the funds generated from it went to the marketing and promotion campaigns. Despite this resolve many fans turned against 'Somewhere Else'. Sales were decent and media liked it but among the family a general feeling of underachievement brought in negativity, something which surprised the band greatly. But thanks to playing many of the new songs on the upcoming tours many naysayers came around rather quickly, realizing the strength and beauty of the songs.
'Somewhere Else' begins with 'The Other Half', a song arranged in two sections, where the first part is dreamy, trippy and kind of upbeat and jazzy. Rothery plays a wonderful solo...when doesn't he though?! The second half is a touch darker with yet again and a amazing solo from Rothers. Here Hogarth is singing "you complete me" to his other half having seen signs in the sky aiding him in changing for the better. 'See It Like A Baby' follows with intricate drumming, leaning towards drum & bass, leading the way until it takes off and soars in the chorus. And it's basically about looking at the world through the eyes of a child. Perhaps it would be a better place if we did? The music and the lyrics really compliment each other in 'Thank you Whoever You Are'. A Beatles-esque backdrop, dreamy and light but sharper in the chorus. A hint....listen to Rothery's solo! This is an ode to celebrate all the good moments you've had with that special one in your life. 'Most Toys' is up next and has a tribal feel running through it with a dissonant guitar playing on top. Musically intense and disjointed, different for being Marillion, indeed. Hogarth throws it out there that it doesn't matter if you have the most things and most expensive toys. Because when you're dead, you're dead and all that counts for nothing. Instead, step back and enjoy life, it's the only one you have. The title track, 'Somewhere Else' is laidback, jazzy, minimalistic and very dejected musically. Hogarth pours his heart out about how he, and he alone, broke up his marriage. Guilt and all the destruction in it's path colours the song vividly.
'A Voice From The Past' refers to the hope John Lennon's 'Imagine' invoked but how his envisioning never materialized. Instead, some 30 years later (when this song was recorded) nothing has improved, in fact, it is now worse for many. Prominent drumming and an elegant piano leads the way. Halfway through the music intensifies and rocks pretty hard until tapering down towards the end. Trippy, dreamy and ethereal, the rhythm section on 'No Such Thing' reminds me of Bo Hansson's musical interpretation of Tolkien's 'Lord Of The Rings'. Lyrically the song is about a number of things that apparently doesn't exist. Does that mean life, and everything it entails, is only an illusion? Marillion really throws down the gauntlet on 'The Wound'. It's the rocker on the album as the band really let everything hang out. Again Hogarth's divorce is so apparent in the lyrics as he sings how pain can get the worst out of a person. Oddly but interestingly he uses the life cycle of a fern as a metaphor for this. A rather bleak outlook of the world, albeit a rather poignant one especially these days, is brought on by 'The Last Century For Man'. Mankind, as a collective, has shut down and is not paying attention to the rapid decline around him, or he's choosing to ignore it. A strange amalgamation since the music is kind of upbeat and positive but the two polar opposites work really well together. The album closer, 'Faith', starts off acoustically with some wonderful work by Rothery. Then it picks up a bit as the whole band joins in. Light, positive and feel-good, 'Faith' is what you have inside yourself, the feelings towards that special person.
I completely missed out on the negativity 'Somewhere Else' faced initially when released since I was avoiding the band at the time. And when I finally listened to this album I really liked what I heard, and still do. Can't really agree with chants of underachieving, sometimes a band should be more minimalistic and stir things up. My only "dislike" is the amount of jazz that has been incorporated since it's a genre I don't like much. But it works really well to help bring out the darker sides Marillion is focusing on. And the reflective moods flourish in this environment. So, to get a stubborn old geezer to like what you're doing is a remarkable feat. In conclusion then, dear wave riders, if you are a fan of Marillion but have never listened to 'Somewhere Else', I highly recommend you do so. As good as it is, a brand new listener should probably wait with it and discover some of their other albums to learn where they come from and who they are first. Don't be discouraged though, dive in headfirst and let the band work their magic on you if you want to.
- Swedebeast
