Album review: MARILLION – Smoke/Mirrors (reissues)

MARILLION - Smoke/Mirrors (reissues)

earMUSIC [Release date 25.05.18]

You need deep pockets in 2018 to keep up with the almost constant Marillion ‘product’ output. As well as the single CD Steven Wilson-Brave stereo remix, this month sees the release of Part 3 of the limited edition live album series. This time, delving deep into the band’s back catalogue to the 2005 weekend convention, the last to be held at Butlins, Minehead.

That weekend kicked off on the Friday night with a canter through the band’s then current album Marbles. That performance, although not available as part of this series, was originally made available on CD as Marbles By The Sea. And although long out of print, completists can still purchase a 256kbps download from the band’s website.

The weekend also, naturally, spawned a DVD – Bootleg Butlins, filmed using just 3 cameras, and also long out of print, with second hand copies now selling at a premium. That DVD ‘mirrored’ these two releases, capturing the up-tempo ‘Smoke’ set on the Saturday night, and the relatively quiet and mellow ‘Mirrors’ set on the Sunday. The Friday performance was presumably omitted because of the release of Marbles On The Road DVD, recorded in London the previous year.

The quality of the performance here, and the recordings, just go to underline that while form can be temporary, class is permanent.

But even within this limited edition live album series, significant overlap of material is beginning to appear. So, the question is, do you indulge? Is it possible, for even Marillion die-hards to get too much of a good thing?

Well, there are some lesser spotted highlights, like ‘Separated Out’ from Anoraknophopia, and ‘Deserve’, ‘Rich’, and ‘House’ from Marillion.com (which will form the centrepiece of the 2019 conventions). The latter gets a beautifully relaxed outing with some exquisite playing / singing and it makes you wonder why it doesn’t feature in set lists more often. And Rothery’s sublime bluesy guitar lines on ‘Born To Run’ from Radiation also merit a special mention.

But as my wife succinctly put it, as I was listening to these two releases, ‘Is that another Marillion live recording (as she rolled her eyes skywards)?? Indeed, a Marillion obsession can be bad not only for your bank balance, but the stability of your marriage.

But what can you do? The quality of these live recordings is second to none. Resistance is useless. ****

Review by Pete Whalley

Album review (Holidays In Eden Live/ Size Matters)
Album review (Unplugged At The Walls/Tumbling Down The Years)
Album review (All One Tonight, CD/DVD)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out radio stream repeat on Tuesday 8th (16:00 GMT) and Thursday 10th April (21:00 GMT)
Next Session: Sunday 4 May

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 2 March 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 4 March 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 7 April 2025

SEVEN BLOOD To The Unknown (indie)
FROM FALL TO SPRING Incomplete (Arising Empire)
POP EVIL Side Effects (MNRK Heavy)
ERJA LYYTINEN Abyss (Tuohi Records)
SKY VALLEY MISTRESS Too Many Ghosts (New Heavy Sounds)
RED GIANT Free Me (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 7 April 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.