CLUTCHING AT STRAWS

Clutching at straws was definitely a bit of a disappointment for me. Having been introduced to this fabulous band by their illustrous debut Script and having experienced that these guys were able to continue at that high level on its successors, this one really falls from the cliff. The songs are quite okay, although I really dislike Incommunicado, the chemistry is gone, the melodies are more or less uninspired, the arrangements are too short. The longer songs are undoubtedly the best albeit that Torch Song and Slainte Mhath are quite nice to listen to. But for the rest it is not the Marillion I'd like to hear. The decision to part after this album was a good one, I think. Fish made his two strongest albums in the next couple of years before tumbling down ánd rising again, fortunately. And Marillion made the best choice they could have made by recruting Steve Hogarth. As for this album, it´s nice to have, it´s nice to listen to most of it once a year nut it didn´t rock the ocean at all.