Customer Reviews

Clutching at Straws

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Marillion's fourth album - and last with original lead singer Fish (who subsequently embarked on a solo career) - is also their best, and is a pinnacle of progressive rock. At its best, prog-rock features complex arrangements and chord and time signature changes held together by strong melodies with meaningful lyrics, and that's what you'll find here: Intellectually stimulating music which is still emotionally gripping. It should appeal to fans of artists from Peter Gabriel to The Who.

Playing with themes embodied by a man named Torch who has substance-abuse problems and who feels his life spiraling out of control (apparently mirroring Fish's feelings about his life in the band at the time), the album kicks off with a tryptich of songs which flow into one another, highlighted by "Warm Wet Circles" with its slow pace and sense of longing.

"Incommunicado" was the first single and is an effective up-tempo piece, while the closing "The Last Straw" drives off of a pounding 4/4 beat. "Torch Song" and "Slainte Mhath" stand out in the quirky, repetitive nature of the guitar lines. Throughout, the tracks have a uniformly haunting quality. Lyrically, Fish's wordplay is at its best, presaging (and superior to) Jon Anderson's lyrics on Anderson Bruford Wakeman and Howe's eponymous album in its style of returning to themes on multiple tracks.

Clutching At Straws also marks the maturation of Steve Rothery as a guitarist capable of carrying the whole album, which he does extremely effectively. On previous albums, Mark Kelly's keyboards had a more prominent role and often tended to be more musically interesting than Rothery's work. Marillion became - for a fleeting instant - a complete, nearly perfect band with this album.

This release of Clutching is a remastered 2-disc version, the second disc featuring demos of a few tracks, one B-side ("Tux On"), and a set of tracks the band worked on subsequently before Fish's departure. The sound quality of these aborted efforts is spotty since the original masters have been lost, but they're a fascinating glimpse of what might have been. In particular, "Sunset Hill" later lent its music to "The King of Sunset Town" on Marillion's Season's End album, while Fish recycled some of the lyrics on "View of a Hill" on his Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors album. None of the extra tracks are A-side material, but they're a terrific historical footnote for Marillion fans. The package also features essays written by band members about recording the album and Fish's departure from the band.

Regrettably, neither Fish nor Marillion would reach these heights again artistically. But Clutching at Straws stands as one of the great rock albums, and one that any fan of exciting, innovative music should listen to.

It's ironic that the title of the album is "Clutching At Straws." Marillion would find themselves in that very situation, after recording probably their best effort. As fate had it, lead singer Fish decided to move on to a solo career after this triumphant release. He left right at the groups apex, or so it seemed. So as history is written, the end of the Fish era hangs over this classic rock-pop-progressive session.

After listening to the subsequent releases with Steve Hogarth onboard as lead singer, the presence of Fish was instantly recognizable at the start of the first track. Fish is in particularly good voice on these sessions. He was obviously at the height of his prowess as a leader and singer. It's no coincidence that he choose this time to move on to seek more challenges to further his blossoming career. It was unfortunate for the group and their legions of fans that he moved on. However, the group managed to continue their strong foothold in progressive rock regardless of this major change. They would go on to tremendous successes in spite of life catching everyone off guard.

This album is hailed by some of their longtime fans as the best of the Fish era. I tend to agree. As I had previously mentioned, Fish seemed at the height of his powers as a lead singer. That fact alone propelled the group to new heights as a unit. Their sound is consistently crisp, exciting and electrifying throughout this double disc. I must say the bonus tracks are quite impressive as well. Considering Mark Kelly found a cassette tape of the tracks in a cookie tin some twelve years later, it's an amazing technological accomplishment regarding the recording process. The fact that these songs were merely sketches of something that was in it's infancy is even more incredible. Once you hear the songs you will understand what I am talking about. I don't think the group needs to have any concern about the quality presented here, as it is truly magnificent considering what people had to work with.

This two CD set is yet another model of consistency and a tribute to Sanctuary Record's commitment to quality and excellence that has been the hallmark of this entire re-issue project. I for one am deeply grateful to the group and the label to have this opportunity to hear all of this phenomenal music, the stories, and the added bonus tracks that have been asleep for so many years. Marillion's prominence overseas has never reached the level that they would have liked here in the U.S. I feel because of these fine productions that things have a very good chance of changing.

Keith Hannaleck July 2, 2000 MuzikMan's Sound Script

After Misplaced Childhood, Marillion frontman Fish found success a difficult thing to cope with. You wouldn't think that he could get anymore personal than he did with the previous album, but here the lyrics are often seriously disquieting as they reflect upon drug abuse and alcoholism unraveling a man's life and corroding his self-respect. It's gritty and lucid with that special, distinctive Fish lyrical prose, which is just a part of what makes Fish-Marillion's music so special. And although few of us experience the problems the character "Torch" goes through, Fish has a good knack for making us empathetic with the songs. It's hard not to be a little stirred by the sad "Warm, Wet Circles," the directionless wandering of "White Russian," the abyssal misery and forlorn fragility of "Going Under," or the lamenting, plaintive "Sugar Mice."

Of course, the accompanying musicians aren't slouches by any means. Rothery, as always, evokes an incredible degree of emotion from the gallant chords that sing from his guitar. While I think the most individually impressive Rothery solo is that from Seasons End's "Easter," Clutching At Straws is his most emotionally powerful work to date. His guitar is Fish's second voice. Rothery's ability to isolate and preserve Fish's emotions is unmatched by anyone. It is possible only through a collegial magic and musical connection that these men share. Keyboardist Mark Kelly is equally important, not being much for pizzazz, but being remarkably effective in subtle tones of atmosphere and feeling.

Clutching at Straws was the last Marillion album with Fish before the band separated (not counting the live La Gazza Ladra). It's thankful that they didn't let themselves record an awful album during this wild and stressful time, and their schism ended on a high note, establishing a faultless legacy as a precursor to their separate ways. It's probably the tension between the musicians that helped create the thick threads of emotion in this release. Now, Fish enjoys a fine solo career, and Marillion brought in the different but still wonderful Steve Hogarth to take the reins.

Marillion's fourth studio effort,"Clutching At Straws" is a true masterpiece of addiction and what it can do to a soul. The lyrics, although heavy handed at times,describe exactly how it feels to go too far in indulging in certain substances, both legal and illegal.The tone here is definitely sad, however the music is both breathtaking(the beginning of "Slainte Mh'ath) and heartbreaking(Steve Rothery's guitar solo in "Sugar Mice"),occasionally at the same time (see "White Russian"). Marillion was at the top of their game on this one(until 1994's "Brave", another masterpiece of darkness),and it continues to be my favorite piece from them.It's an incredible ride with top notch arranging and pristine production.If you like albums that get better with multiple listenings,this one's it. And most people think that NIN is dark.........!

...Where do we go from here,indeed.............

All of the reviews contained here speak for themselves. I have been listening to this album for the past twelve years and it is in my top ten favorite rock discs ever along with Rush's "Signals", Springsteen's "Tunnel of Love" and others. The music alone is worth the price of admission. Througout, the CD is sprinkled with interesting chord progressions as well as key and tempo changes. All musicianship is excellent, but standouts are Mosely on drums and Rothery's Lifeson-inspired otherworldly tone on guitar. Lyrically, however, is where all comparisons should end. I'm a huge fan of the way Sting and Neil Peart can turn a phrase, but Fish is truly in a league of his own. Nowhere can this be better dicovered than on "Warm Wet Circles" and "Slainth Mhath".

Critics often claim that Marillion is nothing more than a carbon-copy of Genesis. While the nod in that direction is clear (especially older Genesis a la "Trick of the Tail" and "Wind and Wuthering"), to say that Genesis is being copied is as ludicrous as claiming that all present-day folk singers are copying Bob Dylan.

This reviewer never tires of hearing this CD and it never fails to bring me to another place. If you enjoy true thinking-man's rock that is still very accessable and "catchy", buy this disc before it goes out of print.

This CD is rich in mood, deep in thought and emotion and ultimately depressing. Still, it has kept my attention for 17 years and remains an incredible work of music.

Steve's solo sends shivers down my spine. The album as a whole is great, but no guitarist should miss this solo - it's the absolute epitomy of playing for the song.

This is a great album. I dont think it is as personal or powerful as Childhoods End but is just as dynamic and emotional. I have just started on my Fish era collection and this is another classic!

This is my favorite Marillion album by far. While I loved Misplaced Childhood the songs on CaS seem a lot tighter both
musically and lyrically. Fish really outdid himself on this
album, even though it was the beginning of the end of his relationship with the rest of the band. This is not a "happy"
collection of songs, it's dark and introspective from beginning
to end. A very personal album from the band. If you want to start
a Marillion collection this is the album to begin with.

....as the best Marillion CD of the Fish era.

Fish I think of as a better, more interesting lyricist,
but Steve Hogarth ( who is now the singer ) is way better
vocally.

That being said, if you do not like "Warm Wet Circles" and
"Sugar Mice" after a couple of playings, check your pulse.
Because I think you just died, but have not stopped moving
yet.