Marillion

Script For A Jester's Tear Deluxe Edition

9/10

By Decibel Report - Apr 22, 2020

This latest deluxe redux of the Marillion oeuvre goes right back to the beginning of this now supreme British Prog band’s recordings with this bells and whistles release of their 1983 debut album. In fact, with the full benefit of hindsight, the band could not have scripted any better career narrative. With a history involving tumultuous dramas, tricky twists and turns of fate, moribund lows, and stratospheric highs, these soundscaping stalwarts finally arrived as current genre leaders of a never say die musical movement. It’s a classic case of the jest being on anybody who derided their initial explosion onto a scene that they were instrumental in re-energising. Some vindication.

As purveyors of storytelling audio fantasies through these callow collages of sonic and lyrical escapades, Marillion played their wild card on this opening gambit and, in no small part, created a parallel progressive universe in a then nascent post-punk prog renaissance.

Possessing the youthful courage to strive towards the musical achievements of their idols, a decade or so before them, this inaugural album still radiates an emotional charge as an artefact of intriguing artful songs clearly evoking the influences of their musical heroes, namely, early Genesis.

Although there aren't any outtakes/unreleased songs to supplement the original tracklisting, the remixes of the album tracks dig out a strong and clear resonance from the original grooves. And, as with all of their recent deluxe releases, there’s the inclusion of a superb and crucial milestone live concert with an unreleased recording of their London Marquee Club show from December 29, 1983. 

The accompanying immersive documentary Sackcloth & Greasepaint, that includes interviews with all the major players in the making of this landmark release, is a treasure trove of revealing anecdotes and reminiscences. Throw in detailed and informative liner notes from Prog Magazine Editor Jerry Ewing chronicling the early beginnings of the band making this package a must-have for any fan.

Looking back from the lofty vantage point of this fabulously curated deluxe set, the joke really is on all the naysayers who initially sniggered at the recorded birth of this ongoing band of neo-prog progenitors.