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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Fish on Friday

8mm

Review by Gary Hill

I've previously reviewed two other albums from this act. Their brand of progressive rock does a great job of merging modern and classic prog sounds. Reference points here include acts like Porcupine Tree and Pineapple Thief alongside groups like Pink Floyd, Alan Parsons and Yes. However you slice it, this is a strong album that is sure to please fans of melodic prog. It's a great addition to the Fish on Friday catalog.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2023  Volume 5 More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2023.

Track by Track Review
8mm
Effects and textural sounds are on the menu as this gets underway. The cut works out to a dreamy sort of ethereal prog style. There are hints of things like Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree, but this is unique. It's a balladic song. It turns more energized and soaring further down the road, really intensifying the whole experience. It resolves to melodic prog that makes me think of Alan Parsons Project to some degree.
Collateral Damage
Piano starts this. It works to a mid-tempo prog arrangement that calls to mind many of the same reference points as the opener did. This gets more powered up at times, but also returns to the mellower motifs.
Overture to Flame
This comes in more rocking from the onset. It has some killer modern meets classic prog jamming built into it. It drops to mellower modes, that segue into the next number.
Flame
This has some sections that make me think of Yes. There is some intricate and intriguing acoustic guitar at play. The introduction is extensive, but eventually it drops to that acoustic styled arrangement for the entrance of the vocals. This works through a number of shifts and changes over the course of its run. There is definitely quite a bit of Steve Howe-like guitar, both of the electric and acoustic variety. At a little under eight-minutes long, this is the epic here in terms of scale. It has a decidedly epic scope, too. it is definitely a highlight for me.
Jump This Wall
Coming up gradually, this is a driving, soaring prog tune. It has a great balance between modern and classic sounds. It has some more AOR oriented elements. It's a classy tune, though.
Don’t Lose Your Spirit
I really love the fast paced prog sounds on this cut. This works through a number of shifts over the course of its run. It drops to a mellow movement for the closing section.
Funerals
Starting slow and mellow, this works out with some great atmospheric style. They work this through all kinds of changes. Parts feature some killer acoustic guitar work. Other sections are more soaring and rocking. This is quite a prog rock journey with a lot of flavors and moods to it. A lot of the earlier reference points are here at different points.
Silently Raging
Dreamy, this features female vocals. It's a modern sounding prog exploration that's very classy.
Instillers
This has a great balance between mellower and more rocking. There is even some funky, disco like guitar at times. This is a dynamic and intriguing piece of music that's quite effective.
A New Home
There are dreamy elements here along with some killer bass work in the backdrop. This has some hints of fusion, but also plenty of pure prog. There are both male and female vocals here. There are more hints of Steve Howe-like instrumental work at times.
Life is Like the Weather
A balladic piece, this has folk music, world sounds and more built into it. Yet, it's all moody prog. I like this song, but personally I think the previous tune would have made a stronger closing shot.
 
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