I've a seen a few railway obsessives in my time, both at the lineside and exhibitions, but I know with 100% certainty that I'm not one myself - even if some relatives might disagree. The reason I know this is my pre-occupation with music makes any interest in trains seem insignificant by comparison. I don't know if I qualify as a music obsessive, in fact I don't even care, but it proves beyond doubt that I'm not a railway one. I suppose I should be relieved.
As much more of my online time is squandered on music rather than railways, I've often thought of adding a music element to this site. I've always resisted this temptation as I'm pretty sure it would take over completely within a week, so things aural are thus limited to the 'On My Stereo' line under normal circumstances. However, these aren't normal circumstances. Two brand-new albums from world-class bands have appeared in recent weeks and there's precious little going on in train set land, unless you're interested in the teddy-tossing and willy-waving of the club cliques and finescale factions. Personally, if I'd been cursed with a finescale willy, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't wave it around.
I've been getting excited (in a non-willy kind of way) about the arrival of Marillion's 'Somewhere Else' and Porcupine Tree's 'Fear of a Blank Planet' for some while now, something that just doesn't happen with model railway releases. Both bands are amongst my most admired. Both bands have a strong track record when it comes to producing albums that stand the test of time, indeed keep getting better the more I listen to them. Both bands' recent output has, arguably, been their finest ever. Both bands have, I think it's fair to say, my full attention.
The new Marillion album has a lot in common with the previous 'Marbles', so if you're familiar with that then you'll know roughly what to expect. Personally I find music of this calibre needs a lot of listens before I really get into it, but when it 'clicks' it clicks for life. 'Marbles' would be in my top ten albums of all time without a shadow of a doubt and, though I haven't listened to 'Somewhere Else' enough times to achieve this state of bliss yet, I think I'm well on the way.
Porcupine Tree's material normally grabs me slightly differently, in that I find it more immediately accessible. But it's still a grower that repays, in fact demands, repeated listenings. There are many layers to peel back and investigate before anything like a full appreciation can be had. Nevertheless, the greater accessibility and the obvious sonic links with the preceeding 'In Absentia' and 'Deadwing' means 'Fear of a Blank Planet' is already well on it's way to 'classic album' status with me.
Anyway, I think that's enough on music for the time being, this is a railway site after all. My apologies to anyone not remotely interested in this rambling, but at least it was a brief rambling. In much the same way that I don't write reviews of railway releases here, this is little more than a "it's out there - go check it out" plug for the products concerned. But, by God, if ever two products were worth checking out it's these two.
Incidentally, both of these albums mention trains. But I'm not obsessive about such things.
Currently On My Stereo: Marillion - Somewhere Else