The opening Vigil, from Fish’s 1990 debut solo album, comes to life with atmospheric whirrings of synthesiser that float through the room before Fish’s voice gently joins in, and soft plucks of glimmering guitar arrive as it hums along with an ever-building presence before erupting with euphoric force.
In 1985 Derek William Dick, the Scottish singer known as Fish, was locked into an intense, vivid and kaleidoscopic LSD experience which provided him with the inspiration for a concept album Misplaced Childhood, which would go on to be hugely successful and spawn multiple hits.
Fish’s voice mirrors this pendulum swing too, sounding mighty, rousing and a little raspy on tracks such as the thundering Credo or the punchy Big Wedge, but graceful and sweet on songs such A Gentleman’s Excuse Me.
The former Marillion singer was on rousing form as he delivered power ballads and intricate rock anthems spanning a career of more than four decades.
A closing version of The Company brings it home, by which point big, burly blokes are in floods of tears as Fish finally wraps up his long, winding and colourful trip.
