"Brave" is the seventh studio album by British rock band Marillion, released in February 1994. It was an ambitious concept album that tells an intricate story of a young girl who is drawn into a world of darkness and despair.
The album marked a radical departure from Marillion's previous works, as it ventured deep into the realm of progressive rock, a stylistic change that was heavily influenced by the band's then-new lead vocalist Steve Hogarth. The songwriting for "Brave" was a collaborative effort, with all of the band members receiving equal writing credits.
The narrative of the album is complex and nuanced, revolving around a mysterious girl who is found wandering on a motorway, her personal history a mystery even to herself. Through the course of the album, the story unfolds, revealing snippets of her troubled past, her struggle with personal demons, and her eventual descent into madness.
Despite its complex narrative and heavy subject matter, "Brave" was well received by critics and fans alike. It reached the top 10 in the UK Albums Chart, showcasing the band's enduring popularity and their ability to successfully reinvent their sound.
Steve Hogarth later revealed that the concept of the album was inspired by a real news story about a girl found wandering the Severn Bridge, but the band took a significant creative license in developing her story and interpreting her emotions through their music. A significant amount of the album was recorded in the dark to help the band capture the profound emotional depth of the narrative.
The sonic architecture of "Brave" also features highly atmospheric soundscapes, making extensive use of the contrast between quiet, intimate sections and powerful, full-band climaxes. These dynamics serve to highlight the emotional intensity inherent in the subject matter of the album. Furthermore, the album's structure, which includes a number of reprised thematic elements, serves to further enhance the cohesion of the narrative.
The album concludes with two possible endings to the narrative – one positive and hopeful, and the other one tragic – reflecting the ambiguity and uncertainty central to the concept of "Brave."
In 1998, a full-length movie of the same name was released on VHS, directed by Richard Stanley, further exploring the themes present in the album's narrative.
