(Review from progreviews.com)

The year is 1983. Synth-pop and new wave have won the war against punk. The dinosaurs of the progressive rock movement are shells of their former selves. What was a self respecting progressive fan to do? There was about to be a revival, of sorts (and not for long), which thrust all things “prog” back into the limelight. The genesis, so to speak, of that revival was Marillion’s debut album “Script for a Jester’s Tear”.

Heavily influenced by classic Genesis, the album set the template for the neo-progressive movement that has stayed with us to this day (for better or worse, depending on your point of view). Longish songs, twiddliy keyboard bits (using cutting edge digital equipment) and soaring guitar solos are all in play here. Not as complex as the classics, but daunting enough to scare away the riff raff.

The greatest distinction from what came before was Fish, the band’s charismatic Scottish frontman. While he certainly sounds a bit more like Peter Gabriel in spots, Fish’s lyrics went to places that the more abstract verse of Genesis and Yes dared to tread. From lost love (“Script for a Jester’s Tear”) to drug addiction (“He Knows You Know”) and suicide (“Chelsea Monday”) to the troubles in Ireland (“Forgotten Sons”), these songs are much more personal than most of 70s progressive. Which is not to say there isn’t some clever social skewering around, too (“Garden Party”). While in the wrong hands these conceits lead to perhaps the most tired neo-progressive cliché, Fish is master, both of the words and the delivery, and isn’t in the same league as most modern melodramatic hacks.

Almost every song is imperfect in some way, but all have redeeming features to make up for it.

“Script For a Jester’s Tear” is in the true spirit of early 70s era progressive rock containing all the main ingredients, emotive and thought provoking lyrics, keyboard and guitar interplay utilizing various effects and above average musicianship.

This edition comes with a bonus CD. There are 3 tracks from Marillion’s EP prior to this debut album with a couple of alternate and demo versions.

Line-up:
- Fish (Derek Dick) / vocals
- Mark Kelly / keyboards
- Mik Pointer / drums, percussion
- Steve Rothery / acoustic & electric guitars
- Pete Trewavas / basses

Track List:
CD1
01. Script For A Jester’s Tear – 8:42
02. He Knows You Know – 5:23
03. The Web – 8:52
04. Garden Party – 7:19
05. Chelsea Monday – 8:17
06. Forgotten Sons – 8:23
CD2
01. Market Square Heroes (Battle Priest Version) – 4:18
02. Three Boats Down From The Candy – 4:31
03. Grendel (Fair Deal Studios Version) – 19:10
04. Chelsea Monday (Manchester Square Demo) – 6:54
05. He Knows You Know (Manchester Square Demo) – 4:29
06. Charting The Single – 4:51
07. Market Square Heroes (Alternative Version) – 4:48

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