Marillion
„Clutching At Straws“
Progressive Melodic Rock. CD 1987.

The band's fourth album in 1987 heralded the end of the era of singer Fish. One more tour and that was it. Marillion picked themselves up again and found a new singer in Steve Hogarth. For many Fish-heads, that was a no go. Fish continued as Fish a little choppily solo, but more on that in other reviews. Critics and fans alike had a mixed reception to Clutching At Straws. Too much mainstream. Too little prog compared to Script For A Jesters Tear and Fugazi. More melodic rock instead. Between "brilliant" and "so-so". The funny thing is that many reviewers predicted the decline of the band. Of course, only after it was known that Fish had left the band. Let's just concentrate on the music and try not to be prophets after the fact.

The first three songs are quite something. "Hotel Hobbies", "Warm Wet Circles" and the short straw "That Time Of The Night". "Fish-esque" lyrics. From gentle to rocky. The beginning? I think it's brilliant. Unfortunately, "Going Under" and "Just For The Record" seem out of place to me and break down the brilliant beginning. "White Russian" picks up again strongly. It is also directed against racism, which makes this song even more likeable. I'll take "Incommunicado" with me and look forward to "Torch" Song", which is about the musician Fish... I mean Torch, of course. "Slainte Mhath" means "good health" and is about the social injustices in Scotland. As a reviewer, it's not my place to call "Sugar Mice" stupid and it doesn't do the song justice. We're dealing with a "normal" ballad, but that doesn't make it bad or even stupid. On the contrary, the lyrics flow wonderfully. And that is Fish's great strength. "The Last Straw / Happy Ending" is a brilliant closer and the lyrics echo those of Hotel Hobbies. A quiet start, a rocky finish.

“Clutching At Straws” is not a concept album, even though Fish deals with some of his own problems here. But “Torch” doesn't seem consistent enough to me. I wouldn't call it disjointed songs, though. In any case, “Clutching At Straws” is musically based on its melodic prog/rock predecessor “Misplaced Childhood”. Compared to “Script For A Jesters Tear” and “Fugazi”, the higher level of professionalism in the production stands out here. I get something out of all the albums, but after Fish left, the Marillion thing was over for me. I just can't stand Steve Hogarth's voice. It's not Steve's fault.

More reviews of Marillion

Script For A Jesters Tear
Fugazi
Misplaced Childhood
Real To Reel / Brief Encounter

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