INTERNAL EXILE

Fish's departure from Marillion may have marked the end of one of the most important lineups in eighties' progressive rock, but the Scottish singer showed great promise as a solo artist with his 1990 debut album, Vigil In a Wilderness of Mirrors. Whilst it may not have been on the level of Clutching at Straws or Script For a Jester's Tear, Vigil is a strong collection of neo-prog compositions with captivating melodies and engaging lyrics. Comparatively, 1991's Internal Exile feels like a bit of a step down for Fish - although the two opening numbers (namely "Shadowplay" and "Credo") are fantastic, the album doesn't sound totally consistent from start to finish. It sounds like Fish was really searching for a distinct solo sound on Internal Exile, but didn't have songs strong enough to carry the weight of his stylistic ambitions. The album's heavy influence from Celtic folk music makes it an interesting stepping stone in Fish's solo career (and "Shadowplay" is worth the price of admission alone!), but on the whole, it isn't one of the man's strongest observations.