Following the multi-platinum success of Marillion’s concept album Misplaced Childhood, the British quintet returned in 1987 with their fourth studio album, Clutching At Straws. The album peaked at number 2 on the U.K. charts, where it scored Top 40 hits with “Incommunicado,” “Sugar Mice,” and “Warm Wet Circles.” Considered by many to be one of the neo-prog rocker’s finest, Clutching At Straws would also turn out to be Marillion’s final studio release with original singer Fish.
Both collections open with a new version of Clutching At Straws that was remixed earlier this year by Andy Bradfield and Avril Mackintosh. Both sets also include a concert recording of Marillon performing in Scotland at the Edinburgh Playhouse in December 1987 during the group’s final tour of Fish-era. It was mixed by Michael Hunter.
Some of the performances first appeared in 1988 on the live album, The Thieving Magpie. In concert, the band plays songs that span its entire career up to that point with “Garden Party” from its 1983 debut Script for a Jester’s Tear; “Punch And Judy” from Fugazi (1984); “Kayleigh” from Misplaced Childhood (1985); and “Warm Wet Circles” from Clutching at Straws.
4CD / Bluray Set - The third disc brings together nine demo recordings released in 1999 with four unreleased demos for “Hotel Hobbies/Warm Wet Circles,” “Just For The Record,” “Torch Song” and “Slàinte Mhath.”
The Blu-ray features the 1987 album’s original mix, plus various other mixes (48/24 PCM Stereo Remix; 48/24 LPCM Master Audio 5.1 Mix; 48/24 DTS Master Audio 5.1 Mix). Video content includes a new 60 minute documentary featuring Mick Wall interviewing the band and discussing the album, plus promo films for “Incommunicado,” “Sugar Mice” and “Warm Wet Circles.”
