Search - Marillion :: Clutch at Straws

The Final Act with Fish - A Superb One!

Heitor Manuel | Lisboa, Portugal | 12/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I believe it's never easy for a band the return to studio after an album with such a success and acclamation as 1985' masterpiece "Misplaced Childhood" had. Marillion were no exception to that. As the big poet tells on the booklet, he had a different view from the rest of the band about the course Marillion should take from then on. As an ultimate consequence of this disunion never solved, Fish would take the decision to leave the band during the "Clutching At Straws" promotion tour. Joining these facts with Fish's difficult period at the time ("And my advise is if you maintain this lifestyle, you won't reach 30" - as Dr. Finlay warns in the "Torch Song"), it's even more significant that their fourth studio album resulted so perfectly, at the same level of quality as their previous 3 original studio records.

Back in the year of release (1987), it was not difficult for Marillion to get the proper promotion everywhere. "Incommunicado", the 1st single that came out of the album, marked my entrance to their music - making it eternally special for me. Not the traditional Marillion sounding but with Fish's sense of humour well present on the lyrics - and also on the video.

The sequence of the first 3 tracks, Hotel Hobbies - Warm Wet Circles - That Time of the Night, is in my opinion the best opening of a Marillion album. Warm Wet Circles is in fact one of the most beautiful songs I've ever known in my life... just as "Sugar Mice". Lyrics with such sensitivity and power only a few can match with, and music at the same level of accomplishment. "White Russian", "Slainte Mhaht" and "The Last Straw" can also be gathered by the lyrics' direction - an expression of Fish's discontent over different aspects of the society. All these 3 songs are great and resulted very well live. "Going Under" and "The Torch Song" can also be gathered but for one sad reality on Fish's life those days - the alcohol among other things. "Just For The Record" is the only song I don't rate at the same level of all others.

Finally, one last thing: the 2CDs special version is highly recommended in this case, with lots of previously unreleased material from the band I enjoy the most."

One of their best... remastered sound is amazing

M. Bauer | Colorado | 01/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently rediscovered Marillion after having collected their Fish era discs as they were released in the eighties. The music holds up really well, and "Clutching At Straws" is probably the strongest of the band's first four studio discs (the other contender being "Misplaced Childhood").



It is worth the investment to pick up this two disc remastered set. The first disc contains the orginal album, and the sound is vastly improved. Instruments are sharply defined, vocals and sound effects stunningly clear. The bonus disk includes a few remixed or demo versions of Clutching songs, along with some decent outtakes from this period. Of particular interest are a couple of songs that would go on to be used on Marillion's following album ("Season's End"). Hearing Fish sing songs eventually done by Steve Hogarth on "Season's End" makes you wonder what the band would have been like if they would have taken and year off and then refined this material with Fish still on board.



The liner notes include fascinating reflections on this period from band memeber and others involved in the project."