Clutching at Straws

by Marillion

Overview

Written and conceived during a period of inner-band turmoil, Clutching at Straws would prove to be Fish's swan song, and perhaps Marillion's most unheralded masterpiece. Teaming up once again with producer Chris Kimsey, Clutching at Straws showcases some of the band's most satisfying compositions, including the magnificent "Warm Wet Circles" and "That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)." Bookended by Fish's disgust with not only himself, "Torch Song," but also with the burgeoning neo-Nazi uprising in Europe, "White Russian," the great Scot delivers an inspired condemnation. The commercial pomp and circumstance of "Incommunicado" also gives way to a self-parodying confessional inspired by Fish's inability to see himself as a bona fide rock star and celebrity ("I want to do adverts for American Express cards, talk shows on prime time T.V."). Tour opener "Slainte Mhath" is simple and elegant, building to its dramatic crescendo only to be upstaged by "Sugar Mice" -- quite simply, one of Marillion's best commercial singles ever. The album's stunning closer, "The Last Straw," is Fish's self-realization that yes, the band is not only over, but that in his mind, it's null and void ("and if you ever come across us, don't give us your sympathy"). Steve Rothery's blinding guitar solo brings the whole thing down to a crashing finish (prophetically, announcing his arrival as the band's true musical instigator on subsequent Fish-less records). ~ John Franck

Product Details

Release Date:	11/23/2018
Label:	Rhino
UPC:	0190295605179

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Marillion   Primary Artist,Vocals
Pete Trewavas   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Tessa Niles   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Steve Rothery   Guitar
Steve Hogarth   Vocals
Chris Kimsey   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Ian Mosley   Drums,Percussion
Mark Kelly   Keyboards
Fish   Vocals

Technical Credits

Nick Davis   Engineer,Recording,Audio Engineer
Kal Mann   Composer
Nick Davies   Mixing
Marillion   Composer,Producer
Pete Townshend   Composer,Lyricist
Dave Appell   Composer
Richard Sullivan   Mixing,Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Derek William Dick   Composer
Pete Trewavas   Arranger,Composer
Diz Minnett   Composer
Michael Pointer   Arranger,Composer
Lucy Jordache   Project Coordinator
Privet Hedge   Producer
Brian Jelliman   Composer
Avril Mackintosh   Mixing,Remixing,Liner Notes,Mixing Engineer
Traditional   Composer
Steve Rothery   Arranger,Composer
Andy Bradfield   Remixing
Bill Smith   Reissue Art
Mark Wilkinson   Design,Illustrations
Chris Kimsey   Producer
Ian Mosley   Composer,Liner Notes
Mark Kelly   Arranger,Composer,Liner Notes
Derek Dick   Arranger,Composer
David Jacob   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Peter Mew   Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Nigel Reeve   Project Coordinator