Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Fish
Label: Dick Bros Record Company
Release: 1994
Length: 73:52
Rating: 4/5
Legendary Scottish singer Fish (his real name, Derek William Dick, was never exactly his favorite, for obvious reasons), who rose to fame as a member of British neo-prog champions Marillion, kept up the successful art rock direction of his earlier solo work on his fourth solo studio effort, »Suits«. It came out after the covers album »Songs From the Mirror« (1993) and was also his first record for the short-lived, self-run label Dick Bros Record Company. The exceptionally clean production came courtesy of James Cassidy, while Fish’s backing crew featured his old guitar sidekick Frank Usher, additional guitarist Robin Boult and cult bassist/occasional vocalist David Paton (ex-Pilot, The Alan Parsons Project, Camel, Bay City Rollers). Cassidy didn’t stop at producing, though: alongside Foster Paterson (ex-Camel), who replaced Mickey Simmonds (yet another former Camel man), he played most of the keyboards and co-wrote five of the album’s ten compositions.
Fish needed a full two years to finish »Suits«, the longest stretch of his career up to that point, and he had even been playing some of the songs on the album live as far back as 1992. Stylistically, »Suits« is a logical continuation of his previous work, such as »Internal Exile« (1991). That means a pretty varied record with a wide spectrum of sounds, from art rock and folk rock to pop rock, though atmospherically it’s a bit darker than his three previous studio albums. Commercially it even did better than both of its predecessors and made a nice showing on the UK charts, where Fish wouldn’t land again until 2008. The two singles, »Lady Let It Lie« and »Fortunes of War«, on the other hand, didn’t do all that well.
»Mr. 1470«, with its sarcastic lyrics about corporate jackets and a jab at the old saying that ‘clothes make the man’, is in effect the album’s title track. With its lively tempo, plenty of fiery guitar licks and gallant synth textures, it makes for a seriously fun opener. Fish proves right away that he was in terrific vocal form at the time, while guest backing vocalist Lorna Bannon adds her own bit of atmospheric magic.
Fish wouldn’t be Fish if he hadn’t come up with at least one song on »Suits« touching on the frustrations of empty fame and glitz, which the singing champ once experienced firsthand, and that song is »Lady Let It Lie«. The sound production, with its subtle keyboard textures, is very reminiscent of what Marillion used to do, while the pop-rock chorus is one of the most commercially appealing in Fish’s entire career, so it’s a shame this upbeat, positively charged standard didn’t make a bigger splash. Usher’s excellent guitar solo and the brilliant lyrics, poking fun at the hollow longing for fame and stardom in modern consumer society, especially among young people, also helped make it one of Fish’s most beloved live staples.
»Emperor’s Song«, which cleverly crosses art rock with pop, is also a clearly commercially minded effort, especially when it comes to the anthemic chorus, while the uplifting mood is packed with spirited guitar passages. The socially aware classic »Fortunes Of War«, ruled by mighty, symphonic atmospheric curtains with traditional Scottish bagpipes audible in the background, is one of those contemplative pieces in Fish’s career that give every listener plenty to chew on. The legendary Scottish highlander once again proves himself an incredibly honest and emotional teller of moving life stories, something he’s had down to a T since the Marillion days.
The darker-toned »Somebody Special«, in which Fish sarcastically rambles on about some femme fatale, is a somewhat punchier number with heated guitar passages, but also smart acoustic arrangements and witty bass lines. »No Dummy« is a rather interesting art rock experiment, where the ‘big fish’ dabbles in funk, world music and jazz, including through sax arrangements, while the backing vocal lines further deepen Fish’s nonchalant singing approach and relaxed vibe.
On »Pipeline«, yet another socially critical message, the charismatic vocal chameleon goes through his melodramatic phase, backed by lavish symphonic arrangements and crisp guitar passages. The next satire on the empty longing for Hollywood glitz, »Jumpsuit City«, even has hints of blues rock, mostly thanks to the harmonica, scattered guitar phrases and melancholy layers of Hammond organ, and is marked by a distinctly mysterious atmosphere. »Bandwagon«, where Fish once again shines with his vocal chameleonism, is a solid hybrid of prog and pop, which goes especially for the complex keyboard textures. With the emotional power ballad »Raw Meat«, the Scottish giant managed to close the album with yet another unforgettable classic, through which you can feel the full atmospheric power of his exceptional voice, while an especially subtle guitar solo does its part in building the drama.
The 1998 reissue of »Suits« also includes two quality bonus tracks. The progressive rock experiment »Black Canal« features scattered electronic samples and complex rhythmic variations. Fish’s typical Scottish accent can also be heard through the narration. It’s a real shame it didn’t make the ‘regular’ part of the album, as it ranks among Fish’s most interesting and complex solo works, but he probably ‘put it in a drawer’ because of its length (over eight minutes) and lack of commercial potential. »Out of My Life«, yet another fiery love confession, is shorter but spirited, a pastoral piece with acoustic arrangements reminiscent of traditional Celtic/Scottish music.
»Suits« lands in the sweet spot of Fish’s studio output so far: an exceptionally consistent, high-quality album that still delights today with some seriously fun ideas. After it, the Scottish vocal tough guy somehow lost the urge to chase the charts and make commercially pleasing songs, having reached a new chapter of songwriting maturity, when it was already clear that his solo career was about to take a completely new course.
Lineup
Fish – vocals
David Paton – bass guitar, backing vocals
David Murray – bagpipes
Lorna Bannon – backing vocals
Robin Boult – guitar
James Cassidy – keyboards
Foster Paterson – keyboards, backing vocals
Fraser Spiers – harmonica
Frank Usher – guitar
Kevin Wilkinson – drums, percussion
Production
James Cassidy
Track list
1. Mr. 1470 (6:06)
2. Lady Let It Lie (6:53)
3. Emperor’s Song (6:18)
4. Fortunes of War (7:51)
5. Somebody Special (5:22)
6. No Dummy (6:16)
7. Pipeline (6:43)
8. Jumpsuit City (6:49)
9. Bandwagon (5:07)
10. Raw Meat (7:20)
Bonus tracks:
11. Black Canal (8:27)
12. Out Of My Life (3:45)
