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The Wishing Tree — Carnival of Souls
(Rock Symphony Dorian DM WT 001, 1996, CD)

by Jeff Melton, Published 1997-05-01

Carnival of Souls Cover art

After several years of speculation and rumor, Steve Rothery (Marillion's mainstay guitarist) has finally released a solo band project, which includes Pete Trewavas and spotlights female vocalist Hannah Stobart. Stylistically, the songwriting is a step back from prog and more toward melodic rock (at times compared to the late-80s group All About Eve). If you can stop drooling at the cover pictures long enough to focus on the songwriting, you can sense that Rothery is attempting to break into a different setting than the one he has boxed himself into with Marillion. I'd say he's only marginally successful since most of the songs are very similar to the last couple of Marillion albums sans Hogarth's interpretations. Recorded in Berkeley, CA, it's not a guitarist album per se with fast chops and loads of soloing. Rothery sticks to understated playing and, in fact, does more acoustic playing than on any band release I can think of. Lyrically the songs are pretty lightweight, love oriented, and sometimes downright simple ("Sister Sister"). Probably the most important saleable point is Hannah's vocal quality: at times she's Celtic and fragile; other times she's young and naïve (directed to be, I'd say). Recommended for Marillion fans and people who appreciate female vocalists.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 12, 1996 releases

Related artist(s): The Wishing Tree

 

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