Marillion from a Swedebeast's point of view Marillion were pretty quick to follow up 'Somewhere Else'. As the band congregated to begin work on the new, as of yet, untitled album, they again set their minds on releasing an EP. But that idea was quickly shelved. After all, they always come up with enough material for a full-length. Inspiration flowed immediately and to such an extent that only 18 months after the start,'Happiness Is The Road' appeared. Intended for traditional formats the band's creative juices told them otherwise. Hence'Happiness Is The Road' came out in two volumes in the 2CD/ two 2LP formats:'Volume I: Essence' and 'Volume II: The Hard Shoulder'. The first is a concept album inspired by the book"The Power Of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. The songs touches upon spirituality, why we are here and the meaning of life. Definitely inwards bound and introspective. The second volume is a collection of individual songs and too good to be left out. More outwards trajectory in approach and slightly more rocking. The only issue the guys had with this album was when to finish writing and recording. Ideas never stopped flowing and most turned into good compositions prompting them to keep going. But that's a good issue to have, I think.
Volume I: Essence
This disc begins with 'Dreamy Street' as Steve Hogarth and Mark Kelly performs a mellow and reflective piece about living in the here and now. Having hope and being free from troubles. It leads into'This Train Is My Life' with the entire band joining in. Builds up gradually and talks about being a band on the road and what a disjointed unreal life it is. It's also a big thank you to long-suffering partners.'Essence' follows the mellow laidback path with brief bursts of more intense playing. A wonderful guitar solo leads the song into a faster ending. Live life without dreamy expectations, instead be here in the now and try to avoid distractions.'Wrapped Up In Time' mourns the passing of the high points in life. Nocturnal and reflective, it has a strong feeling of sadness. And as with the previous songs, there's a slow gradual build-up. Mark Kelly shines on'Liquidity', a piano-guided instrumental composition. Dealing with the loneliness of consumer mentality,'Nothing Fills This Hole' is one of the rockier songs on Volume I. Musically it pulls in pop before the band falls back to a more minimalistic ending.'Wake Up' is a more positive reaction to the previous song and deals about clearing your mind and see what is around you. More upbeat and rocking it moves in the present.
'Trap The Spark' sings about trying to retain the spark of youth and the desire to improve. But you're trapped in a bad rutand can't. Mellow yet frustrated, the music follows the lyrics perfectly. Marillion are trying to find happiness but I don't know if they are successful. A wonderful guitar solo from Rothery, as always. 'A State Of Mind' is about how life becomes what you make of it depending on your state of mind. Kind of jazzy with Pete Trewavas and Ian Mosley leading the way, although Rothery and Kelly takes the centre stage feeding off each other brilliantly. Erupts and the band rocks out a touch as the song climax. A mellow and spaced-out keyboards guides Hogarth initially on'Happiness Is The Road'. Eventually the rest of the gang joins in as the song picks up. Poppy, groovy and expectant, the characteristic build-up is ever present. Each new day is a new opportunity and satisfaction is not the destination, it's the road getting there. A nameless 2 minute silence leads into'Half-Full Jam', an amalgamation of lyrics picked from throughout the album. Marillion do really rock out and jam on this one.
Volume II: The Hard Shoulder
Disc number two opens up with 'Thunder Fly' where strangely summerflies are used, annoying as they are, as a metaphor for annoying girlfriends. A very rare, unkind and mean lyric from the band, indeed. The music is rocking, and then some, with a great solo from Steve Rothery. Laidback and guided by some deft playing by Trewavas and Mosley,'The Man From Planet Marizpan' is reflective, observant and full of different sensations. More expansive towards the end, almost sacral, if you will. Marillion use an alien to show what's like to be the odd one out within the sphere of mankind, alienation at its fullest.'Asylum Satellite #1' continues the feeling of alienation, this time in the shape of convicted criminals. They've been banished to a space station to serve the rest of their sentences looking down on Earth. The music is reflective, mellow and dejected bringing a huge sense of "this is the end of the world". Hogarth and Kelly steps forward on'Older Than Me' where they keep things to a minimal yet they lay everything out there. Portraying a man who disagrees with mankind's negative views on women having younger partners. Hogarth holds the main focus on'Throw Me Out'. His marriage is coming to an end displaying bad and awful that whole situation is. The music is kind of poppy and mellow. The ticking clock in the background is very telling and on point as Hogarth is losing hope.
'Half The World' is basically a continuation of 'Throw Me Out' but on the opposite end of the scale. The protagonist offers a heartfelt wishing well to his lost partner. Ups the pace a little bit to mid-tempo but is more eclectic and here and now.'Whatever Is Wrong With You' sings about being who you are, don't alter yourself because your partner loves you regardless. Weaves back and forth between slow and fast, where the verses keeps it grounded while allowing the chorus to explode.'Especially True' is mid-tempo as well, yet to the point and upfront and it picks up in the end. About America, cultural relativism and what can happen between people on planes. The album ends with'Real Tears For Sale' where Hogarth opens up about the dangers of selling your real life in songs and always having to keep up with the emotional authenticity. Stripped down and baring emotions and the soul of the song amazingly well.
Having discovered this album some time after it was released, I was a little bit intimidated prior to that first spin. These two disc do contain over 106 minutes worth of music and I had no inkling to what my reactions such an extensive body of work would be. However, only a couple of songs in I was mesmerized as Marillion again showed me that there is nothing to worry about, never, when it comes to their music. 'Happiness Is The Road' is a fantastic audible journey that works its magic on all your senses. And for me being in the midst of "re-discovering" Marillion, this was the album where I stopped kicking myself for being so ignorant staying away from the band for so long. That threshold was now overcome and the road wide open to embrace this amazing band with no more regrets.
- Swedebeast
