Happiness Is the Road, Vol. 1

Performer: Marillion
Producer: Marillion; Michael Hunter
Distributor: Music Video Distribution

Notes: Marillion: Steve Hogarth (vocals, piano, kurzweil, glockenspiel, percussion, background vocals); Steve Rothery (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar, background vocals); Pete Trewavas (electric guitar, bass guitar, background vocals); Mark Kelly (piano, harmonium, keyboards, background vocals); Ian Mosley (drum, background vocals). Personnel: Michael Hunter (recorder). Additional personnel: S. Audley (dulcimer); S. Claydon (arco bass); Dawn Roberts (finger cymbals); Jon Hotten (tambourine); P. Bisset (percussion); Emil H. Audio Mixer: Michael Hunter. The band that ushered in the British neo-prog wave in the 1980s, Marillion has proved itself to be a true survivor. Still going strong in 2008, the band is as ambitious as ever, releasing their latest batch of tunes, HAPPINESS IS THE ROAD, as two separate volumes. Where its sister album, THE HARD SHOULDER, is a more visceral, rocking effort, the first volume, ESSENCE, is a lush, atmospheric affair, somewhat reminiscent of latter-day (post-Roger Waters) Pink Floyd, but with a more contemporary flavor that neatly dodges retro cliches.

In the early 1980s, an era dominated by fluffy synth-pop, Marillion stood apart from the pack, with a sound heavily influenced by '70s prog rock. In particular, the band's singer, Fish, had a vocal and visual style strikingly similar to that of Peter Gabriel. Leading the charge of neo-prog into the '80s (alongside Pallas, Pendragon, IQ, et al.), Marillion struck a blow for old-school rock values. After Fish departed, Steve Hogarth came aboard, and instead of falling apart without the former's dynamic presence, the band continued to flourish both musically and commercially.

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