FISH
''13TH STAR''
JANUARY 8 2008
55:30
1/Circle Line
Steve Vantsis/5:54
2/Square Go
Steve Vantsis/5:25
3/Miles de Besos/4:19
4/Zoe 25
Steve Vantsis/5:11
5/Arc of the Curve
Steve Vantsis/5:21
6/Manchmal
Steve Vantsis/5:30
7/Openwater/5:11
8/Dark Star
Steve Vantsis/6:44
9/Where in the World
Steve Vantsis/6:01
10/13th Star
Steve Vantsis/5:54
Lorna Bannon /Vocals (Background)
Fish /Vocals
Gavin Griffiths /Drums
Dave Haswell /Percussion
Chris Johnson /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Foster Paterson /Accordion, Dulcimer, Keyboards, Music Box, Organ, Piano, Sampling, Strings
Frank Usher /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar Loops, Keyboards, Lap Steel Guitar, Organ
Steve Vantsis /Bass, Bass (Upright), Clavinet, Drum Loop, Drum Programming, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Loops, Programming, Sampling
REVIEW
by Sharon Mawer
13th Star was originally released as a limited edition of 10,000 copies with a bonus DVD on September 6, 2007, only available through Fish's website or at one of his concerts to promote the album. It was released to retail on February 12, 2008. The lineup for the album is Frank Usher on guitars, Steve Vantsis on bass, Foss Paterson on keyboards, Gavin Griffiths on drums, Dave Haswell on percussion, Lorna Bannon on backing vocals, and new bandmember Chris Johnson on guitars. For the first time, Calum Malcolm (Prefab Sprout, Blue Nile) was brought in to produce the album, and he introduced a more disciplined approach into the recording process. There was also a change with regard to writing the album, as bassist Vantsis was heavily involved for the first time after ten years playing in the band, and his writing brought a slightly different approach. Some of the lyrics of the songs were also influenced by the fact that Fish split with his fiancée, Heather Findlay of the band Mostly Autumn, shortly after the recording of the album had started. 13th Star was written as a concept album, although this applies mainly to the lyrics presenting a narrative throughout -- the concept was of someone on a journey of self- discovery, with the 13th Star serving as the guiding light or the destination. From the first chords of the opening track, "Circle Line," the influence of Vantsis can be heard as the album has a more rocky feel, more akin to Sunsets on Empire than more recent albums. After this fast start, the album slows down on the third track, "Miles de Besos," which is Spanish for "Thousands of Kisses." The fifth track, "Arc of the Curve," was the first single released from the album, but as expected, it did nothing in the charts. After this track, the album picks up the pace again with one of the disc's highlights, "Manchmal." This is a German word for "Sometimes," and the song tells the tale of the turtle and the scorpion. The remainder of the album continues in the same vein, and overall this is Fish's best offering in a long while -- some say his best ever, although this is open to debate.
BIOGRAPHY
by John Bush
Born April 25, 1958, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Derek William Dick (aka Fish) was the dramatic lead vocalist for prog rock band Marillion until beginning a solo career in 1988. Marillion was initially formed as an instrumental band in 1979 by guitarist Steve Rothery (b. November 25, 1959; Brampton, England), drummer Mick Pointer, bassist Doug Irvine, and keyboard player Brian Jelliman. Irvine began singing in 1980 on the group's first demos, but a year later Marillion invited Fish to join as vocalist, and he assumed the frontman position beginning with their 1983 debut album, Script for a Jester's Tear. His strong Peter Gabriel-inspired vocals enforced critics' accusations that Marillion owed more than just a heavy debt to Genesis, but six more albums followed. Musical difficulties between Fish and the band caused him to leave after 1988's Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra). He was replaced by Steve Hogarth (b. May 14, 1956; Kendal, England), a vocalist quite similar in sound and style to Fish himself.
In 1989, Fish worked with Peter Hammill on Hammill's Fall of the House of Usher project, but was then replaced by Andy Bell. His debut solo album, Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors, appeared one year later and continued the theatrical flair of Marillion's quasi-concept albums. After 1991's Internal Exile and the 1993 covers album Songs from the Mirror, he moved from EMI to Dick Bros. The Acoustic Session CD appeared in 1994, and one year later Fish released a double album (released separately), Yin and Yang. Sunsets on Empire was issued in 1997, followed by the well-received Raingods With Zippos on Chocolate Frog Records in 1999. During the new millennium Fish has continued releasing CDs on the Chocolate Frog label, including 2002's Fellini Days, 2003's Sashimi double-CD set recorded live in Poland, and 2004's Field of Crows. Fish released 13th Star in 2007 and embarked on a North American tour the following year.
DoWnLoAd
''13TH STAR''
JANUARY 8 2008
55:30
1/Circle Line
Steve Vantsis/5:54
2/Square Go
Steve Vantsis/5:25
3/Miles de Besos/4:19
4/Zoe 25
Steve Vantsis/5:11
5/Arc of the Curve
Steve Vantsis/5:21
6/Manchmal
Steve Vantsis/5:30
7/Openwater/5:11
8/Dark Star
Steve Vantsis/6:44
9/Where in the World
Steve Vantsis/6:01
10/13th Star
Steve Vantsis/5:54
Lorna Bannon /Vocals (Background)
Fish /Vocals
Gavin Griffiths /Drums
Dave Haswell /Percussion
Chris Johnson /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Foster Paterson /Accordion, Dulcimer, Keyboards, Music Box, Organ, Piano, Sampling, Strings
Frank Usher /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar Loops, Keyboards, Lap Steel Guitar, Organ
Steve Vantsis /Bass, Bass (Upright), Clavinet, Drum Loop, Drum Programming, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Loops, Programming, Sampling
REVIEW
by Sharon Mawer
13th Star was originally released as a limited edition of 10,000 copies with a bonus DVD on September 6, 2007, only available through Fish's website or at one of his concerts to promote the album. It was released to retail on February 12, 2008. The lineup for the album is Frank Usher on guitars, Steve Vantsis on bass, Foss Paterson on keyboards, Gavin Griffiths on drums, Dave Haswell on percussion, Lorna Bannon on backing vocals, and new bandmember Chris Johnson on guitars. For the first time, Calum Malcolm (Prefab Sprout, Blue Nile) was brought in to produce the album, and he introduced a more disciplined approach into the recording process. There was also a change with regard to writing the album, as bassist Vantsis was heavily involved for the first time after ten years playing in the band, and his writing brought a slightly different approach. Some of the lyrics of the songs were also influenced by the fact that Fish split with his fiancée, Heather Findlay of the band Mostly Autumn, shortly after the recording of the album had started. 13th Star was written as a concept album, although this applies mainly to the lyrics presenting a narrative throughout -- the concept was of someone on a journey of self- discovery, with the 13th Star serving as the guiding light or the destination. From the first chords of the opening track, "Circle Line," the influence of Vantsis can be heard as the album has a more rocky feel, more akin to Sunsets on Empire than more recent albums. After this fast start, the album slows down on the third track, "Miles de Besos," which is Spanish for "Thousands of Kisses." The fifth track, "Arc of the Curve," was the first single released from the album, but as expected, it did nothing in the charts. After this track, the album picks up the pace again with one of the disc's highlights, "Manchmal." This is a German word for "Sometimes," and the song tells the tale of the turtle and the scorpion. The remainder of the album continues in the same vein, and overall this is Fish's best offering in a long while -- some say his best ever, although this is open to debate.
BIOGRAPHY
by John Bush
Born April 25, 1958, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Derek William Dick (aka Fish) was the dramatic lead vocalist for prog rock band Marillion until beginning a solo career in 1988. Marillion was initially formed as an instrumental band in 1979 by guitarist Steve Rothery (b. November 25, 1959; Brampton, England), drummer Mick Pointer, bassist Doug Irvine, and keyboard player Brian Jelliman. Irvine began singing in 1980 on the group's first demos, but a year later Marillion invited Fish to join as vocalist, and he assumed the frontman position beginning with their 1983 debut album, Script for a Jester's Tear. His strong Peter Gabriel-inspired vocals enforced critics' accusations that Marillion owed more than just a heavy debt to Genesis, but six more albums followed. Musical difficulties between Fish and the band caused him to leave after 1988's Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra). He was replaced by Steve Hogarth (b. May 14, 1956; Kendal, England), a vocalist quite similar in sound and style to Fish himself.
In 1989, Fish worked with Peter Hammill on Hammill's Fall of the House of Usher project, but was then replaced by Andy Bell. His debut solo album, Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors, appeared one year later and continued the theatrical flair of Marillion's quasi-concept albums. After 1991's Internal Exile and the 1993 covers album Songs from the Mirror, he moved from EMI to Dick Bros. The Acoustic Session CD appeared in 1994, and one year later Fish released a double album (released separately), Yin and Yang. Sunsets on Empire was issued in 1997, followed by the well-received Raingods With Zippos on Chocolate Frog Records in 1999. During the new millennium Fish has continued releasing CDs on the Chocolate Frog label, including 2002's Fellini Days, 2003's Sashimi double-CD set recorded live in Poland, and 2004's Field of Crows. Fish released 13th Star in 2007 and embarked on a North American tour the following year.
DoWnLoAd
