sommar@enea.se (Erland Sommarskog) (06/09/91)
Once I was a Marillion fan who bought their albums as soon I saw them. But it ended with "Clutching at Straws". Although a decent album, it is not par with "Fugazi". I didn't give up Marillion completely, I just put them on the low-priority list. So some weeks faced with the offer of buying the "Vigil..." CD for 50, it was a deal. A fine deal. "Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors" is a good album, and I dare to say that Fish made the right thing in leaving Marillion. On his own he is freer, and not bound to Marillion's "progressive" style. "Vigil..." is much broader in style than any of the Marillion albums. The opening track "Vigil" does resemble some of old Marillion, but the next "Big Wedge" is nothing like that. Horns, a steady rocking beat. And unusual lyrics to be Fish. "State of Mind" is a ballad, as is "A Gentleman's Excuse Me". "Family Business" carries some of "Chelsea Monday", and "View From the Hill" is slightly like something of "Fugazi". then again "I like to Watch", despite being rocky, does not sound Marillion at all. As a whole the mixture is broader than what Fish could achieve in Marillion. The favourite tracks are "Vigil", "Big Wedge" and "View From the Hill" which should have closed the album. The last track "Cliche" does feel pasted in afterwards, and neither fits nor is particulary good. But besides "Cliche" the album is fair throughout. Compared to the Marillion album I like this one better than "Clutching at Straws" and maybe "Misplaced Childhood" too. It doesn't beat "Fugazi", though. And in case I had forgotten it, this album reminded me that Fish is really a very good singer. -- Erland Sommarskog - ENEA Data, Stockholm - sommar@enea.se