New Life!
JD Cetola | Omaha, NE USA | 02/24/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This collection of Fish solo and Marillion material recorded by Fish and his band in 1994 is overall a very good recording. This new issue adds a second disc to the original Acoustic Session cd released several years ago (although 4 of the songs are done on both cds). The vast majority of material on these discs is from Fish's third studio album ("Suits"). These songs, while not as powerful as those from "Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors" or even "Internal Exile" do have some moments of brilliance and the better ones are included on this "live" recording (although audience noise is nonexistent). What really makes this cd worth purchasing is the laid-back treatment these songs get (especially the version of "Sugar Mice"). The songs don't rock in any sense of the word, but they do sound fresh, original, and pleasing. Instrumentation is sparse throughout (even Fish's voice is somewhat restrained) but these scaled-back versions work very well. Overall, this collection is worth having for any Fish or early-era Marillion fan--if nothing more for a change of pace."