Miniature Earth

Stunning video (and affected me way more than anything Bono said ever could). I prefer the Tears For Fears version of the soundtrack though.

As it says in the video, one of the “luxuries” that 18 have to do without is a tap with clean water.

Marillion – Out Of This World

This is awesome stuff. Another track off Marillion’s “Afraid Of Sunlight”, mixed with footage of the subject matter – Donald Campbell’s world speed record attempts in the 1960s. Click here for a Wikipedia article about Campbell’s land and water speed record attempts – and also how Bill Smith was inspired to search for the remains of the Bluebird after hearing Marillion’s song. And click here to read Steve Hogarth’s account of the raising of the Bluebird.

The first clip is actual archive footage, and the second clip is from the BBC’s 1988 reconstruction of his final attempt in 1967. 

(Whoops! This doesn’t play as an embedded version… I’ll try and sort that out later, but for now click here to view it)

Marillion live on BBC 6 Music

Three tracks and a bit of chat from Marillion on the radio last week. Most of the time I resent paying the license fee, then I remember about 6 Music and it’s every penny. They’ve got a live session from Porcupine Tree in a couple of weeks time (to follow up on the session that’s on the Radio 1 rock show in about 15 minutes time)

Click here to hear the live sessionThis is by no means their best ever live performance (I’ve got to come clean and say that after 22 years as a fan I’m growing tired of hearing them live unless I’m actually in the audience! their studio stuff is infinitely preferable) but a good interview.

I’ve got their new album (Somewhere Else, released last week) on heavy rotation at the moment. It’s a mixed bag really going from the sublime (the title track) to the ridiculous (the ghastly attempt at a straightforward rocker “Most Toys”) and to my mind the two tracks in this radio show don’t do it justice. “Somewhere Else” (the song) is already up there in my all time top ten Marillion tracks though, and is worth the price of the CD alone.

As always, I commend Marillion’s website and online store to the house

Marillion – Afraid of Sunlight

When it comes to Marillion it’s difficult to know where to start… so many misconceptions to deal with!

For a band that are about to release their 14th album, it’s funny how many people still identify them with their former frontman Fish, who left 10 albums and almost 20 years ago. They’ve firmly taken control of their own destiny, and have been as innovative in making the music industry work them as they have been musically. They also haven’t released a song based on a JRR Tolkien character for 25 years

This track is the title track from their “Afraid of Sunlight” album – it’s actually the third track in the middle section of the album (the first two being Afraid Of Sunrise and Out Of This World – one of many Marillion songs about water and death! Lovely!)

Marillion – Afraid of Sunlight

Find a better way of life at www.marillion.com