Clutching at Straws
Occupation
- Fish - vocals
- Steve Rothery - Guitar
- Mark Kelly - Keyboards
- Pete Trewavas - Bass
- Ian Mosley - drums
Clutching at Straws (English for: "An straws clinging " ) is the fourth studio album by the British progressive rock band Marillion. It was released in June 1987 as the last studio album of the Fish era. The album is a concept album in which the basis of the fictional character "Torch" problems and self-doubt with and without alcohol are discussed.
Background
The making of the album was influenced by the success of Misplaced Childhood and the associated tours. Mark Kelly described this type of song writing as " composus interruptus " because the work was repeatedly interrupted by concerts or interviews. From May 1986 to January 1987 was carried out on the new songs, the material was presented to the producers Chris Kimsey and EMI executives Hugh Stanley Clarke. They were pretty unimpressed until the band played incommunicado, a song was evaluated as a potential hit single.
Published between 1997 and 1999, EMI incurred under their label Marillion albums as a 24- bit Digital Remaster 2- disc version, the bonus CD of Clutching at Straws contains, inter alia, the last recordings that had made with singer Fish the band.
Title list
All songs were written by Fish, Mark Kelly, Ian Mosley, Steve Rothery and Pete Trewavas.
Title List of Bonus CD
Singles
The first single was released with the 1987 Incommunicado Going Under B-side in May, which reached the 6th place of the UK singles charts. The second single, Sugar Mice, published in July 1987 with the Tux On the B-side, reached number 22 in the UK charts. The third single Warm Wet Circles with the White Russian ( Live) B-side was released in October 1987 and also reached number 22 in the UK charts.
Reception
The reviewers vary in rating between " best " and " worst " album of the Fish era. There is agreement, however, about the Steve Rothery on this album afforded his best guitar playing.