Locked within the PETER GABRIEL/ PHIL COLLINS niche, FISH is mastered in the art of whimsicality and at his best can emulate the expressive explorations of such noted giants.
Internal Exile musters little of the former and walks a path that incorporates a more folky and Gaelic feel. Wandering this plateau means the more bizarre idiosyncrasies are left aside and the album treads towards a safer sphere where the 'serious writer' can work in a dignified if diluted style. Chris Kimsey's thoughtful production gives a definite edge but songs that roll on a low ebb have a habit of being easily forgotten.
Of the nine tracks on offer three have a folky feel with plenty of homeland references and lots of reminiscing about the wild days of old. On the more vigorous side, the opener Shadowplay has a bit of bite and second track Credo kicks along with an element of fire. The best track, however, is left until last and that's an excellent cover of the THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN classic Something In The Air.
Maybe that says it all. There's not a bad song on the album but the general lack of conviction always leaves me expecting more and wondering why FISH's new material falls short when held up to a really great number like the 1969 hit. Nice enough album for a winter evening by the fire, but I've a suspicion that life has become a little too easy for the big man. Grade B
Mike Harris
Riff Raff
January, 1992
NOTE: Fish himself later saw this review and responded to it on his Facebook page as follows:
Fish: "interesting review that omits the background that I'd just come out of a year long legal wrangle (try saying that fast:-) with EMI Records, had just built a new studio of which this album was the "guinea pig" and my head was frazzled by the... music industry. Tired? yes! Disillusioned? Yes! Slightly directionless in all the confusion? Strange that although the album never hit the highs it still contains live classics such as "Lucky","Credo" "Just Good Friends" and "Internal Exile", less played but firm fan favourites "Shadowplay" and "Tongues," with "Dear Friend" and "Favourite Stranger" perhaps the weaker of the songs although both have sat well in acoustic shows "Stranger" in particular shining on the "Communion" album. Something just didn't click with the album in the time that it was released. Jury's out."
Internal Exile musters little of the former and walks a path that incorporates a more folky and Gaelic feel. Wandering this plateau means the more bizarre idiosyncrasies are left aside and the album treads towards a safer sphere where the 'serious writer' can work in a dignified if diluted style. Chris Kimsey's thoughtful production gives a definite edge but songs that roll on a low ebb have a habit of being easily forgotten.
Of the nine tracks on offer three have a folky feel with plenty of homeland references and lots of reminiscing about the wild days of old. On the more vigorous side, the opener Shadowplay has a bit of bite and second track Credo kicks along with an element of fire. The best track, however, is left until last and that's an excellent cover of the THUNDERCLAP NEWMAN classic Something In The Air.
Maybe that says it all. There's not a bad song on the album but the general lack of conviction always leaves me expecting more and wondering why FISH's new material falls short when held up to a really great number like the 1969 hit. Nice enough album for a winter evening by the fire, but I've a suspicion that life has become a little too easy for the big man. Grade B
Mike Harris
Riff Raff
January, 1992
NOTE: Fish himself later saw this review and responded to it on his Facebook page as follows:
Fish: "interesting review that omits the background that I'd just come out of a year long legal wrangle (try saying that fast:-) with EMI Records, had just built a new studio of which this album was the "guinea pig" and my head was frazzled by the... music industry. Tired? yes! Disillusioned? Yes! Slightly directionless in all the confusion? Strange that although the album never hit the highs it still contains live classics such as "Lucky","Credo" "Just Good Friends" and "Internal Exile", less played but firm fan favourites "Shadowplay" and "Tongues," with "Dear Friend" and "Favourite Stranger" perhaps the weaker of the songs although both have sat well in acoustic shows "Stranger" in particular shining on the "Communion" album. Something just didn't click with the album in the time that it was released. Jury's out."
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