Got my pre-ordered copy of the new Marillion album, and honestly, it's up there with Marbles.
Track by track:
Gaza - Opens on the 18 minute epic, with lyrics taken from interviews with the people of Gaza and others, and a nice middle-eastern sound to the main riff.
Sounds that Can't be Made - something else a bit different, opens a little flat, but then really builds.
Pour My Love - One of Marillion's strongest ballards in years.
Power - A fairly standard rocker, bit of a jazz/funk groove to the main riff.
Montreal - Another long track, softer, and one that's definately a grower.
Invisible Ink - another ballard.
Lucky Man - The big rock anthem, sure to be a live favourite - can't stop singing this chorus!
The Sky Above the Rain - The big closer, has to be heard to be believed.
The album has the shine and sparkle, bright treble and deep bass that made Marbles so listenable, the somewhat flat production on Somewhere Else and HITR has been well and truly excised. It really does fall out of your speakers and into your ears like warm honey.
Best album of the year so far my a mile, and probably the best album of the 21st Century so far...