MARILLION – Clutching At Straws [Ltd. Deluxe Edition 4-CD Box Set remixed / remastered] (2018) *EXCLUSIVE*

After the successful reissue of MARILLION‘s 1985 album Misplaced Childhood in 2017, now, released last November, we have a fantastic remastered / remixed reissue of their excellent 1987 album “Clutching At Straws”, in the form of a 4CD + Blu-ray Deluxe Edition Box Set, including previously unreleased material.

Like its predecessor, the album was produced by Chris Kimsey and it delivered three top forty hits (‘Incommunicado’, ‘Sugar Mice’ and ‘Warm Wet Circles’). “Clutching At Straws” would turn out to be Marillion’s final studio release with original singer Fish, and it’s one of my all-time from the British quintet.

This 4-CD Box is a gem.
Disc 1 features the original “Clutching At Straws”, not only remastered but also featuring a fresh 2018 Remix by Andy Bradfield and Avril Mackintosh (Mackintosh was the original mixing engineer for producer Chris Kimsey in Advision studios back in 1987).
The sound quality is incredible, and indeed we are able to discovering a ‘new’ album.

Disc 2 & 3 features the legendary Marillion show in Edinburgh on December 19th, 1987 and this is the first time it’s been released in its entirety, though the last three songs from the show weren’t properly taped so CD2 ends abruptly, providing an even more charm to a ‘unearthed tape’.
Part of that live performance has appeared before on The Thieving Magpie live album, although it should be noted that this is a new mix for 2018 by Michael Hunter.
Again, the sound quality is top notch.

And then Disc 4 features “Clutching At Straws Demo Sessions”. Naming these ‘demos’ is a formality, as the quality is excellent.
Again, some of these demo versions surfaced before, however, half are previously unreleased. The ‘Mosaic Demos’ are pure gold.

Marillon’s “Clutching At Straws [Ltd. Deluxe Edition 4-CD Box Set Remastered]” is a must have, not only for fans of the band but also for everyone who loves quality ’80s rock music.
The album features some of the finest contemporary neo prog / rock&pop music ever recorded, now completely refreshed.
Additionally, the superb Edinburgh concert recording has been unearthed and finally released in all its glory, plus the previously unheard pre-production demo sessions.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (thanks to J for this pearl)

0dayrox Exclusive

CD1: Clutching At Straws (2018 Andy Bradfield & Avril Mackintosh remix)
01 – Hotel Hobbies
02 – Warm Wet Circles
03 – That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)
04 – Going Under (alternate version)
05 – Just for the Record
06 – White Russian
07 – Incommunicado
08 – Torch Song
09 – Slàinte Mhath
10 – Sugar Mice
11 – The Last Straw / Happy Ending

CD2: Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse (2018 Michael Hunter Mix)
01 – La Gazza Ladra
02 – Slàinte Mhath
03 – Assassing
04 – White Russian
05 – Incubus
06 – Sugar Mice
07 – Fugazi
08 – Hotel Hobbies
09 – Warm Wet Circles
10 – That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)

CD3: Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse (2018 Michael Hunter Mix)
01 – Pseudo Silk Kimono (intro)
02 – Kayleigh
03 – Lavender
04 – Bitter Suite
05 – Heart of Lothian
06 – The Last Straw
07 – Incommunicado
08 – Garden Party
09 – Market Square Heroes

CD4: Clutching At Straws demos (Remastered)
01 – Beaujolais Day
02 – Story From a Thin Wall
03 – Shadows on the Barley
04 – Exile on Princes Street
05 – Sunset Hill
06 – Tic-Tac-Toe
07 – Voice in the Crowd
08 – White Russians
09 – Sugar Mice in the Rain
10 – Hotel Hobbies / Warm Wet Circles (the Mosaic demos)
11 – Just for the Record
12 – Torch Song
13 – Slàinte Mhath

Fish – vocals
Steve Rothery – guitars
Mark Kelly – keyboards
Pete Trewavas – bass
Ian Mosley – drums
additional musicians;
Tessa Niles, Chris Kimsey – backing vocals

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Clutching-at-Straws-Ltd-Deluxe-Marillion/dp/B07GW2PFR4
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