FORTUNE TELLING

Fortune Telling was my first, and presently still my only, STRANGEFISH album. I must admit I really had to play this album quite a few times before I started to like it. At first STRANGEFISH' music made me reminisce of Marillion's - Fish era. You might even say: "What's in a name?!"

Coincidence or not, I think this band has made a very appealing album with "Fortune Telling". The album opener "Happy as I am" sets the mood immediately and it is a very happy tune. "What's in a name?" all over again! Many different tempo's in the song remind us of being in different moods. I especially like the "spoken part" followed by the lyrics: "I don't think so!". this is obviously the happy part. :-)

"It could be me" is a soft emotional track, beautifully sung by Steve Taylor. "Random" is a somewhat heavier and more experimental track. "360°" is a very short track containing beautiful violins. A nice "intermission" sort of speak. After this "intermission" comes another highlight of the album: "Keep the exits clear". I completely love this track! Many different tempo's, wonderful melodies and a great chorus: this is STRANGEFISH at their best!

"Have you seen the light" is a more up-tempo again, followed by "Lightswitch", another intermission track. "Ignorance of bliss" is another one of my favourites. Just as great as "Keep the exits clear". The two "Reflection" songs are very good too. "This is me part I" is again sung by the "jolly joker" and "This is me part II" is sung by the softer, more serious side of Mr. Strangefish. I love the strong melody in it, this seems to be the thread through the entire album. The album ends with "Lighthouse jig". This track starts out as a Celtic inspired song, mainly instrumental and we get the same "happy feeling" all over again as where the album kicked of with. Seems like the circle is round again.

Fortune Telling is a very nice effort from STRANGEFISH. 4 stars.