FISH ON FRIDAY

Black Rain

DAnother banquet of lushness from the pastoral proggers.

espite the presence in their ranks of bassist Nick Beggs – a man never destined to win any Shrinking Violet Of The Year awards – Fish On Friday come from the less-is-more school of prog. Theirs is a sedate style, founded upon sweeping, skylark melodies and rich, generous harmonies.

Black Rain follows last summer’s

‘best of’, An Initiation. With a combined duration of almost 14 minutes its first two tracks, Life In Towns and Murderous Highland Highway, are as compelling as anything the British-Belgian-American group have released during the first decade of their existence.

Beggs is FOF’s most prominent member although it’s Marty Townsend who pulls their symphonic strings. The guitarist may not have been blessed with the world’s most charismatic voice but his solos on Trapped In Heaven and Angel Of Mercy are little short of sublime. Following her appearance on 2018’s Quiet Life, Beggs’ daughter Lula plays an even bigger role here, adding her vocals to four songs. Listen out, too, for flautist Theo Travis on Letting Go Of You and Angel Of Mercy.

Newbies should begin with An Initiation and waste little time in seeking a soaking from Black Rain.