SUNSETS ON EMPIRE

I had shelved this album many years ago, but Fish's latest album, 13th Star, as well as the mostly excellent ratings given in PA, convinced me to give it another try in case I had been completely mistaken. And I was not.

Listening tho Sunsets on Empire again for the purpose of this review was excruciating. I am a fan of Fish, notably for his work with Marillion, his live performances as well as his first and latest solo albums, but the only reason why I will not pawn this album is because I am also a collector. And then, even as a collector, I would avoid buying it knowing full well what it is.

Sunsets on Empire opens with a good progressive track, The Perception of Johnny Punter. Nice guitar riff mixing accoustic and electric, spacey keyboards and great vocals. Slowly builds up to a strong ending.

Golfish and Clowns, the second track, is pretty. Yet, nothing progressive there, and mostly sounds like trying to "chart the single".

The only other bearable track would be Brother 52, another radio hit attempt. Edges towards hard rock with folk elements, would fit on a Fish compilation. But that's about it for Sunsets.

All of the other 7 tracks consist of taxing melodies and elementary compositions. It seems to me that they were crafted for the purpose of filling an album which was required to sell the two or three decent tracks mentioned above. Sunrise will not come again for this CD as far as I'm concerned.