REVIEW: Fish, Kettle of Fish 88-98 (Roadrunner)
- Dan Birchall
Don't let the label fool you - Fish isn't the latest heavy-metal act. The former Marillion frontman, on his own for the last decade, is either god or devil to long-time fans of his old band, and a rather interesting fellow. There aren't many rockers about with backgrounds in forestry.
Although his stylistic wanderings have taken him to some fairly odd points in the musical continuum during his solo career - the song "Brother 52" being a good example - Fish hasn't lost any of the ability he displayed prior to 1988. He can still sound passionate at any point in his broad dynamic range, be it a whisper to a shout, and his passion is put to good use with lyrics from introspective to accusatory.
This compendium serves up a baker's dozen of Fish songs, including two new tracks. With sounds reminiscent of old Marillion, Peter Gabriel, traditional jigs, and the occasional bit of electronic pop, it displays the breadth of his work. All in all, a rather tasty morsel for new fans who'd like to sink their teeth into some Fish, and a suitable retrospective for existing fans' collections.
