Fish used to be the lead singer of Marillion. I don't think his solo work has ever been released domestically, all I've seen (and bought) have been expensive imports.

"Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors"

1. "Vigil" (8:43)
2. "Big Wedge" (5:19)
3. "State of Mind" (4:42)
4. "The Company" (4:04)
5. "A Gentleman's Excuse Me" (4:15)
6. "The Voyeur (I Like to Watch)" (4:42)
7. "Family Business" (5:14)
8. "View from the Hill" (6:38)
9. "Cliche" (7:01)

You know, Fish has always had a tendency to bitch about things in his lyrics--lost loves, his childhood, his life in general. "View from the Hill" continues the theme by bitching about Marillion (as clued in by the liner notes, which contain, "Thanks to Marillion for showing me the hill.") A fantastic album all around, varying slow, quiet songs with harder-rockin' numbers. "The Voyeur" is slightly reminiscent of Genesis's "I Know What I Like"...hehe.

And speaking of Genesis, Fish did a terrific collaboration with Tony Banks on the Quicksilver soundtrack. He also lends his voice to Ayreon's Into the Electric Castle.

"A Gentleman's Excuse Me" (CD single)

1. "A Gentleman's Excuse Me" (4:15)
2. "Whiplash" (4:13)
3. "A Gentleman's Excuse Me"--demo version (3:53)

Bought this CD single just to see if "Whiplash" was a cover of the song by Metallica. It's not, of course, but it's a pretty weird song anyway.

"Internal Exile"

1. "Shadowplay" (6:25)
2. "Credo" (6:39)
3. "Just Good Friends (Close)" (5:59)
4. "Favourite Stranger" (5:55)
5. "Lucky" (4:48)
6. "Dear Friend" (4:07)
7. "Tongues" (6:22)
8. "Internal Exile" (4:40)
9. "Something in the Air" (5:06)

Uh-oh, I haven't confirmed this but it sure sounds like Fish finally went and got himself psychological counseling. ALWAYS the death knell for the tormented artist. Sounds a bit rushed, too--the lyric sheet was printed before some of the songs were completed! A few nice traditional Scottish rhythms, but the rest is too fuckin' happy & sentimental. Also this is the first time we get to know Fish's real name: Derek W. Dick. YIKES! No wonder he went by "Fish"!

"Sunsets on Empire"

1. "The Perception of Johnny Punter" (8:37)
2. "Goldfish & Clowns" (6:36)
3. "Change of Heart" (3:41)
4. "What Colour is God?" (5:50)
5. "Tara" (5:12)
6. "Jungle Ride" (7:34)
7. "Worm in a Bottle" (6:24)
8. "Brother 52" (6:03)
9. "Sunsets on Empire" (6:54)
10. "Say it with Flowers" (4:15)

You know, I really, really thought it would be a cold day in hell before I ever bought another Fish album...but having found this one for a mere $4.99 (considerably less than the $24 most of his titles require!) I figured, what the hell, it's only five bucks and maybe it's even good? Well...surprise! The opening track has a THICK guitar riff, thicker in fact than anything he's done with Marillion, and he even says "motherfucker" in the first verse (a good sign!) I didn't pay much attention to the lyrics, so who knows how his therapy's going...but musically, it's as diverse and progressive as anything on Vigil, or hell, even Clutching at Straws. The only real groaner track, expectedly so, is "Change of Heart" -- "Say it with Flowers" tends to nauseate as well (the song is actually okay, but ... that ... TITLE!! AAAACCKKKK!!!)

You know what this means, though...the door's been opened for me to seek out whatever shit Mr. Dick's put out during the seven years between Exile and this album, and from what I can see there's a LOT...dammit I should have considered the consequences more carefully!

[untitled CDR]

1. "Question" (6:45)
2. "Hold Your Head Up" (3:52)
3. "I Know What I Like" (4:22)
4. "Time and a Word" (4:23)
5. "Out of My Life" (3:49)
6. "Carnival Man" (6:15)
7. "Poet's Moon" (4:24)
8. "Black Canal" (8:26)
9. "Angel Face" (5:18)
10. "The Seeker" (3:15)

A friend mailed me this CDR of various Fish b-sides and cover tunes, I didn't even know he was mailing it until it showed up in my box...how nice, kinda like Christmas. :) The first four songs were originally done by The Moody Blues, Argent, Genesis and Yes; "The Seeker" was done originally by The Who. "Poet's Moon" I know is the b-side from "Credo", and a couple others are from one of Tony Banks's albums (I forget which ones.)

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