WARM WET CIRCLES

"Warm Wet Circles" is a single release by UK progressive rock act Marillion. The single was released through EMI Records in October 1987. It´s the third single released to promote the band´s fourth full-length studio album "Clutching at Straws" from June 1987. The 7" single version of the release features a remix of "Warm Wet Circles" on the A-side and a live version of "White Russian" on the B-side, while the 12" version also features a live version of "Incommunicado". Both live tracks were recorded at Freilichtbühne Loreley (Open-Air Stage) Loreley, St. Goarshausen, Germany on the 18th of July 1987. The two live tracks were also available as part of the November 1987 "Live from Loreley" VHS tape, but audio versions of the tracks along with the remaining tracks recored at the same concert, wouldn´t appear until 2009 with the release of the "Live from Loreley" live album.

"Warm Wet Circles" is an intriguing progressive rock song featuring lyrics by Fish, which have elements of both innocense and brutality, deep melancholy and fear of a normal life without adventure. Fish uses the image of a warm wet circle to create several different images in the listener´s mind, and tell multible stories along the way, using very few words. It´s quite brilliant really...

"White Russian" is one of the more challenging and epic tracks on "Clutching at Straws" (1987), and as always Marillion perform on stage with what sound like ease and natural comfort. The same is the case with "Incommunicado". These live versions are slightly less polished than the live versions on the 1988 "The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra)" live album, but still very well sounding, detailed, and powerful. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.