Anoraknophobia

Anoraknophobia
Studio album by Marillion
Released 15 May 2001
Recorded 2000–2001 at The Racket Club in Buckinghamshire
Genre Progressive rock, alternative rock
Length 63:40
Label Intact/Liberty Records (UK)
Producer Dave Meegan
Marillion chronology

marillion.com
(1999)		 Anoraknophobia
(2001)		 Marbles
(2004)
Singles from Anoraknophobia
  1. "Between You and Me/Map of the World"
    Released: April 2001
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Classic Rock [2]
Kerrang! [3]

Anoraknophobia is Marillion's 12th studio album, released in 2001. Following the success of their previous North American tour, underwritten by the band's fans themselves, Marillion turned to their fans to finance the making of Anoraknophobia, asking them to pre-order the album before it was even recorded. This was as unprecedented as it was successful, as more than 12,500 fans pre-ordered it. All who pre-ordered the album received a special double-CD version. Everyone who pre-ordered the album before a set date also got their names printed in the booklet of the 2-CD version. The album title appears to be a portmanteau of "anorak" (or its slang equivalent) and "arachnophobia", although according to Steve Hogarth the point of the title is no fear of anoraks ("anorak no phobia").[4]

To accompany the album, Marillion issued a press release which stated:

“ This is an important and contemporary album that is light years removed from anything the band have created in their past. It deserves to be reviewed in a manner that is both accurate and fair. So, our challenge to you is to firstly listen to the album. Then write a review without using any of the following words: 'progressive rock,' 'Genesis,' 'Fish,' 'heavy metal,' 'dinosaurs,' 'predictable,' 'concept album'. Because if you do, we'll know that you haven't listened to it.[5] ”

Anoraknophobia was the first of the band's studio albums to fail to chart at all in the UK, for the following reasons: 1) The pre-order sales were direct through the band's web-site and as such could not be counted; and 2) The retail version contained a sticker of "Barry" (the character from the cover art) within the jewel case making it exempt from charting due to the inducement of a free gift - even though anyone purchasing the CD wouldn't be aware of the "gift" until opening up the packaging.

Its sole single, "Between You and Me", also failed to chart. The single was only available via the band's web-site and was sold as "two copies for the price of one" with the request that the second copy be passed onto local radio stations along with a polite request letter that could be printed out for inclusion.


Musical content

As exemplified by the press release issued by the band, Anoraknophobia was a deliberate attempt by Marillion to sound modern and distance themselves further from their neo-progressive rock past. In an interview with the BBC, Steve Hogarth talked about the band's new direction and the album's diverse influences. He said: "With this album there's been a massive invasion of black influence – there's rap, there's groove, there's funk, there's trip-hop, blues, jazz, dub."[6]

Reception

Stuart Maconie gave the album a largely critical review in Q magazine, awarding it two stars out of five and claiming: "Steve Hogarth is way funkier than Fish but the tone is still as arch and self-important as a lower-sixth poetry mag." Maconie praised "Between You and Me", comparing it favourably with Crowded House and U2, but criticised the band for musical self-indulgence, especially on the 11-minute "This is the 21st Century". Maconie concluded: "Clearly Marillion can play. If only they wouldn't play so much of it."[7]

Track listing

  1. "Between You and Me" – 6:27
  2. "Quartz" – 9:06
  3. "Map of the World" – 5:02
  4. "When I Meet God" – 9:17
  5. "The Fruit of the Wild Rose" – 6:57
  6. "Separated Out" – 6:17
  7. "This is the 21st Century" – 11:07
  8. "If My Heart Were a Ball It Would Roll Uphill" – 9:28

The bonus CD also has these tracks:

  1. "Number One" – 2:48
  2. "The Fruit of the Wild Rose" (Demo) – 6:20
  3. "Separated Out" (Demo) – 6:03
  4. "Between You and Me" (Mark Kelly Remix) – 5:08
  5. "Number One" (Recording Demo Video)
  6. "Map of the World" (Recording Demo Video)

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Hamlin, Andrew (2011). "Anoraknophobia – Marillion | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  2. ↑ Philip Wilding Classic Rock, May 2001.
  3. ↑ Catherine Chambers Kerrang!, May 2001.
  4. ↑ "Steve Hogarth on Anoraknophobia - marillion.com". Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Marillion: Anoraknophobia". The Night Owl. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Marillion fans to the rescue". BBC News. 11 May 2001.
  7. ↑ Stuart Maconie Q, May 2001.

External links

Comments on the album by some of the band members on Marillion's website: