CLUTCHING AT STRAWS

I've been listening to Marillion's debut for years now, but I had never really connected to their other albums with Fish. Probably because I just don't like that eighties sound too much. 'Clutching at Straws' became my Covid-19 album last two weeks and I must say I was very much surprised by the maturity and the songwriting quality of this release! Especially when comparing it to the chaotic 'Fugazi' album. The sound of Marillion has bits of mid- seventies Genesis at its most symphonic and The Wall-era Pink Floyd. Sonicly you can hear the nineties just around the corner. Guitarist Steve Rothery impressed me a lot here with his frantic, yet melodic solo's that are sure to fire up the more intense moments even further. He is obviously influenced by David Gilmour, but manages to extend the symphonic blues repertoire with some original ideas. Marillion uses a lot of keyboards and synths, but never without creating interesting textures and distinct atmospheres. The band drenches the listener in an emotional journey - as is expected nowadays with neoprog - and the concept-album feel really works to the benefit of the songs here. Fish refrains from using his voice in the more extreme ways, perfecting his performance for a balanced and imaginative listening experience. The rocking 'Incommunicado' is the only song I don't fully like, because I don't like the sound of Marillion pumpin' the AOR at this dense level. On the other had, the band excels making great AOR / prog ballads like the haunting 'Torch Song' and 'Sugar Mice'. For me this is pretty much a perfect album and I'm guessing I will be giving 'Misplace Childhood' another listen as well - a record I felt disgusted by when first hearing it age seventeen.