SUNSETS ON EMPIRE - LIVE IN POLAND 1997

One thing for sure this performance of Fish and his band is very enjoyable and I keep spinning the DVD because I want to watch again the show. But, I got problems with shooting angles which I do not think the cameraman is quite experienced with his profession. Most of the shoots are to Fish (I think more than 75% I see Fish old face in at my screen). The angle should be made some musicians face as well, especially during time when the musician performs his solo. In addition to this, the camera does not seem to stand at a firmed position so that the pictures are unstable. The show was filmed by TV Poland on October 10th 1997, in Przemysl, Poland, during the Sunsets On Empire Tour. Fish purchased the rights for this recording in 1999 and released it on VHS. It has then re-released on this double DVD, with the second DVD as bonus material in the form of a behind-the-scenes film and an interview with Fish.

The concert was conducted at open air and rain was falling down on the night. The crowd was dancing in the rain in front of the stage it's just a wonderful sight. It's probably inspired by this show that Fish later released 'Raingods with Zippo' album.

The performance starts with long riffs / rhythm section by Robin Boult guitar work followed by Fish enters the vocal line in The Perception Of Johnny Punter (11:15). It's really a nice and catchy track from the Sunset on Empire album. Fish sings excellently throughout the song. What surprise me is the What Colour Is God? (5:52) which has become my favorite it is now being performed by Fish on stage. My major attention is basically on the twenty-minute medley. The medley is so brilliantly crafted that it becomes a great song in itself. It reminds me to Genesis In The Cage - Collony of Slipper Man - Cinema Show - Afterglow meddley in the past. It blends both Marillion and early solo material, reaching climax after climax. The medley starts with a great transition from Jungle Ride into the opening of Assassing. After two verses of Assassing it turns to Credo which in its turn morphs into Tongues. Then it's back to the mid-section of Assassing all the way to the end of the track. But then the band is just warming up. Dave 'Squeaky' Stewart breaks into a powerful drum solo which fires up the end-section of Fugazi ('where are the prophets...' portion). And just when that it's I think about to over the band plays the whole of White Feather straight after that. At the end of White Feather follows an extended jam which revisits Credo and Fugazi while still playing White Feather.

After this great medley the band plays Fish' first two albums with Family Business, Cliché (my favorite) and the ending of The Company from Vigil and Lucky and the title track off Internal Exile. The second encore is a good reinterpretation of A Gentleman's Excuse Me, featuring just Fish and Mickey Simmonds on piano. The song moves seamlessly into Lavender.

The second DVD provides two interesting extras. The first one is a 30-minute Behind-the-scenes documentary which shows one full day on the road during the Sunsets On Empire tour in Germany. It features short interviews by all band and crew members and an honest conversation with Fish talking about life on the road, being away from friends and family for so long. Second extra is a 50-minute interview with Fish in which about the Sunsets On Empire album and the tour and the Poland gig in particular.

Overall, it's an excellent addition to any prog music collection. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW