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Chris Squire - Fish Out Of Water CD (album) cover

FISH OUT OF WATER

Chris Squire

 

Symphonic Prog

4.00 | 518 ratings

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BrufordFreak
5 stars One of my Top 5 favorite solo album spinoffs from members of the "Big Six" of Classic Era progressive rock, this album has a complete and finished feel of a visionary professional as well as a mature songwriter. Whereas so many of the other solo attempts from others have either strayed from the prog world (Rick Wakeman, Alan White, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, the whole of Phil Collins' and Peter Gabriel's pop-oriented solo output) or served notice that these artists are far less as independent individuals as they were with their group collaborators, Fish Out of Water seems to be able to stand on its own for its own distinctive and memorable sound, melodies, and collaborative performances. He was even able to pull of not one but two very successful epics (a rare feat among prog artists gone solo)!

Line-up / Musicians: - Chris Squire / lead & back vocals, basses *, 12-string Rickenbacker electric guitar (3,5), producer With: - Andrew Pryce Jackman / acoustic and Fender Rhodes pianos, orchestrations, conductor - Patrick Moraz / Hammond organ (3), bass Moog synthesizer - Barry Rose / St. Pauls Cathedral pipe organ (1) - Jimmy Hastings / flute (2) - Mel Collins / tenor (3) & alto (4) saxophones - Bill Bruford / drums, percussion (tubular bells, gong) - Nikki Squire / backing vocals (1) - John Wilbraham / leader of the orchestra brass section - Jim Buck / leader of the orchestra horns section - Adrian Brett / leader of the orchestra woodwinds section - Julian Gaillard / leader of the orchestra strings section

1. "Hold Out Your Hand" (4:13) highlighted by the vocal and Barry Rose pipe organ work (8.75/10)

2. "You By My Side (4:59) dragged down by pace, vocal, and weak Elton john-like piano styling; highlighted by the flute and tubular bells and orchestrated finish. (7.75/10)

3. "Silently Falling" (11:26) opening with a classical orchestra feel, the emergence of rock band elements is one of the most perfect transitions ever! Though the two main structural and chordal/melodic setups are perhaps drawn long, the contributions of each and every musician to this song (including Chris' vocals!) are stupendous! As perfect and surprising a prog epic as one could ever devise. (20/20)

4. "Lucky Seven" (6:54) with the awesome Canterbury-jazzy keyboard intro and syncopated bass and drum contributions, this has got to be one of the most infectious and solid foundations for a prog song ever. Put Mel Collins' awesome woodwind work and Chris's great vocal and delightful bass work on top and subtle strings/orchestral play below and your have a masterpiece. Could almost be a King Crimson song. (15/15)

5. "Safe (Canon Song)" (14:56) again opening with a classical music feel due to piano stylings and full orchestral support, this one does not transition as smoothly into the rock styles and formats (partly due to awkward vocal choices and, later, in the third minute, conflicting layering of sound threads). Once we enter the instrumental jam section in the fourth minute we are treated to an exhibition of awesome bass play, but then we move back into an orchestral supported muddled section for a rather grating vocal section. At the five minute mark we launch into the depths of the voyage of bass-melody-supported instrumental tradeoffs (like taking roll call on the deck of the ship). The ensuing "jam" of classical orchestral instruments is fun, and then the electronic instruments take over as the orchestra amps up in ERIC WOOLFSON fashion for support. At 8:25 we push the restart button and start the jam over, this time giving the strings more prominence in the initial weave supporting Chris's foundational bass line. The horns entry with electric guitars is impressive and awesome. So are all contributions by the percussion section. An admirable experiment in truly blending rock within an orchestra that mostly works. (26.5/30)

Total Time: 42:34

If Chris Squire felt that he was a fish out of water in doing this project, he most certainly was a fish fly or, at the very least, a flying fish.

Five stars; a minor masterpiece of progressive rock music well expressing the tremendous potential of the rock band within full orchestra setting.

BrufordFreak | 5/5 |

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