(Review from progarchives.com)

Fish’s first solo album, released in 1990 is in many ways a predictable affair. The big man sings his heart out, offering little space to his selected fellow musicians as he offers his often acerbic views on subjects close to his heart. The album would perhaps have benefited from more and lengthier instrumental passages, to provide a counterpoint for Fish’s singing. This in itself however presents a quandary for Fish, as had he done so, he would of course have been accused of making another Marillion album. The atmospheric start to the opening track “Vigil” suggests this may be a clone of “Misplaced Childhood” but the pace soon increases with Fish allowing only a bagpipe (like?) sound to interrupt his dominant vocal.

Fish’s cynicism is always to the fore, with lyrics such as “We sell our souls for the Big Wedge”, (“Big Wedge”), and “I didn’t trust the government” (“State of mind”). The “Vigil in a wilderness of mirrors” line is also repeated on the latter. Some of the themes covered by the album are quite disturbing, especially tracks such as “Family business”, which deals with wife beating.

Tthe melodies are often strong. “A Gentleman’s Excuse Me” for example is a soft orchestrated ballad, and “Cliché” has some excellent, if all too brief, Rothery-esque guitar. It could have been a great Marillion song, had Fish stayed with the band.

As a transitional album between the progressive sound of Marillion and Fish-later solo works, the stuff is very melodic and highly accessible, the arrangements are more diverse than they have ever been during the Marillion years.

Line-up:
- Fish / vocals
with
- Mark Brzezicki / drums
- John Giblin / bass
- Mickey Simmonds / keyboards
- Frank Usher / guitar
- Hal Lindes / guitar
- Janick Gers / guitar (8)
- Luis Jardim / percussion
- Carol Kenyon & Tessa Niles / backing vocals
- Davy Spillane / pipes & whistles (1)
- Phil Cunningham / whistle, Bodhran & accordion (4)
- Kick Horns (Lorimer, Sanders, Clarke, Spong) / brass (2)
- Aly Bain & Gavin Wright / violins (4)
- John Keeble / drums (3)

Track List:
01. Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors – 8:47
02. Big Wedge – 5:22
03. State Of Mind – 4:46
04. The Company – 4:08
05. A Gentleman’s Excuse Me – 4:19
06. The Voyeur (I Like To Watch) – 4:45
07. Family Business – 5:17
08. View From A Hill – 6:41
09. Cliche – 7:10
10. Jack And Jill (Bonus) – 4:28
11. Internal Exile (Bonus) – 4:51
12. The Company (Bonus Demo) – 4:30
13. A Gentleman’s Excuse Me (Bonus Demo) – 3:54
14. Whiplash (Bonus) – 4:25

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