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Fish - Field Of Crows CD (album) cover

FIELD OF CROWS

Fish

 

Neo-Prog

3.58 | 194 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
3 stars I'm afraid that I won't be as laudatory as my fellow reviewers about this release; not that this album is bad but I can't find lots of highlights in here. And IMO, few highlights can hardly mean a brilliant album.

The opener starts OK, building up nicely crescendo, but as soon as the brass make their appearance (for the last two minutes), they kind of ruin the good mood. It finishes in some sort of world music tune which is quite a deception.

Most songs have a simple approach and the prog feeling that could be noticed in "Raingods" has completely disappeared. Harder sounds and average melodies are too many on this work: "The Rookie", "Old Crow" (with painful brass again and a shouting Fish), "Numbers" (which only shines during a short guitar break).

Again, the brass section during the groovy "Zoo Class" is rather invading. And the song doesn't move me at all. Repetitive and monotonous. In one word: boring.

On the plus side, "Moving Targets" probably holds the strongest lyrics of the whole album and "The Last Plot" is my preferred track. At last! Fish is displaying his melodic voice for a delicate song. Brilliant piano, excellent backing bands and convincing vocals. In one word: great. Fish as I used to like, but not only him. The second part which is greatly covered with a fantastic and inspired guitar solo is surely one of the (few) passionate instants of this long album. But we are already half way through.

The soft and gentle "Exit Wounds" also comes as a good surprise. It is another pleasant ballad which allows Fish to make use of his immense vocal talent and finally be so poignant. Some might call it mellow, but at least I get some emotion out of it. Thanks man. Even the final sax solo is enjoyable!

"Innocent Party" has a lot to share with some genuine "Marillion" songs ("Fugazi" period during which their sound was also on the harder edge). But it is better balanced than the other hard-rock songs from Crow. Fish is more signing than shouting and the instruments are also smoother and are melting pretty well with the vocals. Another good track.

There is nothing to do. I prefer the ambient, sweeter tracks from this album than the louder ones. In this respect, "Shot The Crow" also offers this subtle Fish style that we all love. Intimate and friendly. A pleasant "crow" song.

The closing number is a bit sad but so emotional. A great love song of a lost lover. I even wonder if it is not autobiographical.An interesting closing number indeed.

At the end of the day, this is another good Fish album which I rate with three stars.

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 |

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