Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors [Digipak] [Remastered] - Fish

.../>
1. Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors
2. Big Wedge
3. State of Mind
4. The Company
5. A Gentlemans Excuse Me
6. The Voyeur (I Like to Watch)
7. Family Business
8. View from a Hill
9. Cliche

10. Jack and Jill
11. Internal Exile
12. The Company (demo)
13. A Gentlemans Excuse Me (demo)
14. Whiplash

The title track is probably the ...
...Marillion coming in at nearly nine minutes but the others, apart from a couple of other tracks are all within the five minute margin. Once again it is the lyrics which mark Fish out from the rest of the crowd and, ever since 'Misplaced Childhood', these seem to have become a lot easier to follow and as a consequence have become a touch more open and honest. Also, a selection of the lyrics appear on the special edition of Marillions 'Clutching at ... more

'Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors' was Fish's first solo album and was released in 1990. The was his first release since parting ways with Marillion and, while keeping one foot firmly in the prog rock camp, looked towards his native country of Scotland and included many traditionally Gaelic instruments such as pipes and whistles. The CD contains 9 tracks plus an extra five are available for the Special Edition release.

'Vigil' was seen by many fans as being the rightful follow-up to 'Clutching at Straws' which had been Marillions last LP with Fish as the flavour and lyrical content better matched their style. 'Seasons End' which was the REAL follow-up with new vocalist Steve Hogarth was a good record but somehow had lost the force of Fish'swords. Fish also employed Mark Wilkinson, Marillion's cover artist across their first three records, to design his record sleeve.

Track Listing

1. Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors
2. Big Wedge
3. State of Mind
4. The Company
5. A Gentlemans Excuse Me
6. The Voyeur (I Like to Watch)
7. Family Business
8. View from a Hill
9. Cliche

10. Jack and Jill
11. Internal Exile
12. The Company (demo)
13. A Gentlemans Excuse Me (demo)
14. Whiplash

The title track is probably the song that pays the greatest homage to his days with Marillion coming in at nearly nine minutes but the others, apart from a couple of other tracks are all within the five minute margin. Once again it is the lyrics which mark Fish out from the rest of the crowd and, ever since 'Misplaced Childhood', these seem to have become a lot easier to follow and as a consequence have become a touch more open and honest. Also, a selection of the lyrics appear on the special edition of Marillions 'Clutching at Straws' as well as some of the song ideas.

In 'The Company' he sings of the drunks pleasure at being surrounded by his fellow drinkers and enjoying their warmth and humour which only he can see. 'Family Business' is a haunting song detailing the hushed silence of a family torn apart by violence - 'cos daddy don't like people prying, poking in his family affairs, and if anyone asks from the Social, well, you fell down the stairs.'

'Gentlemans Excue Me' is the slowest and saddest song on the set and sings of the lost hopes and dreams of a fading beauty and how she still crosses her fingers amidst all the kick-backs. 'Internal Exile', one of the bonus tracks, would later go on to appear on his next album of the same name only in a different mix.

Reading the list of musicians who appeared on the CD it would lead to you assume that the sound would be a lot heavier as Janick Gers, now a full-time member of Iron Maiden, plays guitars across the entire product but his sound is muted and subtle for the most part and only occasionally breaks away from its trappings.

Fish, for me, had always been the main player in the Marillion sound with his colourful words and pained delivery, and with this album I think he proved the divorce from his previous band probably hit them harder than it did him. Unfortunately, Marillion would have the last laugh as Fish's productive output has slid downhill ever since. He still can write some wonderful lyrics and produce a good song out of the hat every now and again but to me they just never live up to the quality of that first solo attempt.

This review is also posted on dooyoo. 

...less