SUNSETS ON EMPIRE

With his fifth studio album, "Sunsets On Empire", Fish has produced his best work since Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors, released in 1990. One man is no stranger to this success: Steven Wilson, the leader of Porcupine Tree, co-wrote six songs (including one with his No-Man colleague Tim Bowness), took care of the arrangements, produced the album, and plays most of the guitar parts (and good chunk of the keyboards).

The opening track, "The Perception Of Johnny Punter" (8:37), is probably his most ambitious, with Led Zeppelin-like guitars and a great symphonic finale. Other highlights include "Goldfish & Clowns", with its wonderful chorus, the Britpop-ish "Change Of Heart", and Fish's killer instinct from the "Fugazi" days indeed back on the track "What Colour Is God?" "Jungle Ride" with its psychedelic-prog-arabic feel is also pretty enjoyable. Things calm down a bit with "Tara", a beautiful ballad dedicated to his daughter. The proggiest track is the title track, gaining momentum every second, ending in an amazing floydian finale courtesy of Lorna Bannon. Wilson even indulges in a long Gilmour inspired guitar solo. The last song, "Say It With Flowers" shows us Fish at its simplest expression: vocals, acoustic guitar, some Wilson guitar in the background, a little accordion, and that's it.

Even though Fish's solo albums have been pretty hit and miss, "Sunsets from Empire" is good from the beginning to the end.