Fish

Part of a series of official bootlegs produced in 1993 by Fish himself and bounced around from one label to another following his financial problems in the late '90s, For Whom the Bells Toll is not for the casual listener. On the other hand, dedicated fans rank it as one of the most worthwhile of these live albums. Recorded in late 1990, this concert is taken from the Internal Exile tour -- by far Fish's most documented period. But here's the trick: It was recorded on New Year's Eve in Edinburgh (remember, the man is Scottish). This is one huge party: The singer is in quite a talkative mood, joking around as he keeps an eye on the clock to make sure the band is not stuck in the middle of a song when it strikes midnight. On-stage pranks and his hysterical Scottish accent don't get in the way of the performance itself though. The band was at its peak, and if six weeks of touring begin to take their toll on Fish's voice, he compensates with an extra dose of energy. The set list covers the key songs from Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors and Internal Exile, plus a few old Marillion cuts to spice things up: "Incubus," "Heart of Lothian," "Forgotten Sons," and "Market Square Heroes" -- the latter taken from a Paris show since the tape ran out before the Edinburgh encore. This one is for the fans wishing they'd been there. Sound quality is very good to excellent (it is a mixing-desk recording). [The U.K. edition cuts the album into two halves, offering "Shadowplay" on both CDs and blending "Internal Exile" and "Market Square Heroes" into one track.] ~ François Couture, All Music Guide