J'ai trové ta faille (Lazuli, 2014)

Lazuli is one of the most inetersting French bands from the years 2000s. This "J'ai trouvé ta faille" (that's to say "I found your weak point") comes from the album "Tant que l'herbe est grasse" ("Until the grass is puffy") and is a charming track, IMHO. Featuring a beautiful melody and a good mix of folk, neo-prog and electronic devices, this song has a discreet and growing strength, even before guest vocalist Fish comes in for the last verse in English.

"Tant que l'herbe est grasse" was the sixth studio album by Lazuli.

The emotional crescendo  of the track is exciting, but these musicians never show off and look after every details of their music, with a keen and subtle craft that's not at all common nowadays. I suppose that's why they constantly progressed from their early records to the latest ones. And that's why this is an accomplished song I highly recommend.

Shadowplay (Fish, 1991)

This is the opening track of Fish's second solo album, "Internal Exile". It seems to me it features the old days energy of Mr. Derek Dick, a tough performance by the band and also an excellent melody. The keyboards by Simmonds remind me here of Marillion's Mark Kelly, but there's a sharper guitar to top the arrangement. The tempo changes and the atmospheric sections also enrich a song that still stands among my favoutite solo tracks by Fish.

Beautiful cover, isn't it? Scottish pride & Mr. Wilkinson...

The arcane and hypnotic musical loops in the middle section gradually lead to one of the best vocal crescendos Fish performed in his entire career. That's exacly the heartbreaking, moving, inside-out kind of magic he used to set up in his best moments, something he picks up again from time to time and I always expect from his songs. Pure prog energy, pure musical emotions...

The Company (Fish, 1990)

When "Vigil in A Wilderness of Mirrors" was released, back in 1990, this rather short song immediately captured my attention because of its catchy melody and its vaguely medieval arrangement. But I soon realised that there were another reason why I listened to this one more and more: it was full of energy, the same energy I appreciated in early Marillion songs. All was done in order to support the overflowing strength of the singer, his dynamic way to communicate feelings and to narrate stories. Fish wrote the lyrics of this track, while the music is by keyboardist Mickey Simmonds, involved in many other prog releases (Mike Oldfield, Renaissance, Camel...).

"The Company" was released as a single for the German market.

 

The folk mood of this song is assured not only by the melody, circular and enthralling like some popular dances, but also by Phil Cunningham's, Gavyn Wright's and Aly Bain's acoustic instruments: accordion, violin, whistles and even the Irish drum called bodhrán. The irresistible drumming is by the well known Portuguese session man Luís Jardim, whose collaborations include the like of Yes, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Asia, David Bowie and Elton John. The final result is, IMHO, one of the most enjoyable fast tempo prog songs I've ever listened to.

Vigil (Fish, 1990)

The solo career of Fish, the first Marillion's frontman is a fluctuating one, with good and bad moments since he left the band. For sure, his first album, "Vigil in A Wilderness of Mirrors" still is one of his best achievements and its opening track, "Vigil" is probably my favourite one. It's an atmospheric song of more than 8 minutes, featuring a very good mix of moods, with a sensitive verse, an airy chorus and some interesting instrumental passages, including John Gilbin's bags, as a welcome Scottish signature.

Mark Wilkinson's art for Fish's first album.

Also the lyrics are excellent, with the typical Fish's uneasiness towards life and social ties. Maybe you'll miss some more rythm here, but the pliable, intimate and painful voice of Mr. Dick will certainly compensate for that. Each time Fish has a good song like this one, I'm there to listen to him.