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Always the brave soul since leaving Marillion nearly twenty
years ago, Fish dangles hooks aplenty in his latest album
"13th Star" and is even willing to tackle elements of the
current prog scene sound. When most artists attempt to update
their sound for the current market they usually flounder or
end up swimming in circles as they attempt to find their place
within the new musical landscape. Fish confidently grabs the
pole so to speak and reels in the audience with an album about
as strong as anything he's produced in the last decade. ***
Beginning with the guitar crunch of "Circle Line" (which
deceptively starts off as if it might be something mellow,
danceable and then quickly dives headlong into the rocky shore
with the snarky guitar work of Chris Johnson and Frank Usher
exploding into action at the two minute mark. Each of the
tracks pulls this deceptive trick making you think that the
material is going to go in one direction and then taking a
complete about face (nothing new to Fish fans but it will
be to those who have little experience with his albums). ***
Likewise "Square Go" opens with a nasty little bass pattern
that quickly gives way to the gated drum sound of Gavin Griffiths.
If Peter Gabriel ever loses his way as a solo artist, all
he has to do is take a listen to Fish and he'll quickly re-establish
him (the similarity between the two artists is striking and
parallel similar without being derivative. It's always been
clear that PG has been an influence on Fish). ***
"Miles De Beos" with an inspired acoustic guitar and piano
accompaniment gutting the previously established sound from
the opening songs.. "Open Water" provides another highlight
on the album with its jangling guitar opening the way for
a song that becomes surprisingly funky in the middle section.
***
The album alternates darker, harder driving tunes with
softer material not so much in a formula as a means to provide
some light to balance the darkness of some of Fish's more
heated ramblings. Each track "Manchmal", "Arc of the Curve",
"Zoe 25" each has moments to recommend them (particularly
the last tune which provides a snapshot of the life of ordinary
young adults and the hopes of a better life as they search
for someone to share their lives with. It features a moving
vocal by Fish. ---
The title track closes out the album in a more relaxed
vein with strummed guitars, piano and light percussion backing
up Fish's vocals. It's a nice, fitting close to one of Fish's
best solo albums in the last ten years.
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