Fish – Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors & Internal Exile – 2024 Remix Deluxe Editions (Reviews)

by Geoff Bailie

Any follower of Fish will know that he’s been very upfront about his forthcoming retirement. Three of the final elements of the jigsaw before Fish and his wife Simone head off to retirement on an island off Scotland have been: (i) the final album – Weltschmertz which was issued in 2020; (ii) the final tour – now booked for 2024/24; and (iii) the completion of the reissue series of his back catalogue. Arguably this final element has been even more logistically complicated than any other aspect of Fish’s career.

Following the Marillion / Fish split, both bands were straight out of the blocks with new music within 3 months of each other and both Fish and Marillion having the confidence of EMI behind them However within less than two years, he had moved off EMI and was signed to Polydor. But let’s forget about the politics, the navigation of which have made it a long road to these reissues appearing. Instead these reissues are ready to roll – so let’s take a look at the box sets and their contents.

Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors

At the time of launch in the UK, Fish was a well known face and name. The album hit number 5 in the charts and all of the singles charted in the Top 40. But to make this album, the singer and lyricist needed to find someone whose musical ideas would compliment his style – and he did so in keyboard player Mickey Simmonds, along with some contributions from (soon to be Iron Maiden guitarist) Janick Gerrs and Dire Straits guitarist Hal Lindes.

The result was a very strong album with every track being a standout, in my opinion. Opening with the mission statement title track, Vigil…, which builds from minimal backing (echoes of Script for a Jester’s Tear, Marillion album no 1) to the monumental chorus. Big Wedge follows with a Fish-eye view of America at the time of tele-evangelists and corporate greed, leading into the groovier State of Mind, which takes the message of Big Wedge and turns it into a protest anthem. The Company has been a fan favourite since day one, capturing a folky/ Scottish feel reflective of Fish’s background and massive singalong chorus – while not being a concept album, the theme of The Hill features in this and several other songs, as well as the cover artwork. A Gentleman’s Excuse me is an end of relationship ballad, while The Voyeur switches to a nasty, dark characterisation. Family Business deals sensitively with the topic of domestic abuse, while Cliche is a brilliantly understated love song with a superb guitar solo. Finally View from a Hill brings the album, and the concept to an epic close.

I have to say that the 2024 remix is an excellent piece of work. What it manages to achieve is a smoothing of some of the more 1980s aspects of the production, resulting, at least to these ears, in a smoother and stronger sound. I’m always a bit worried when I hear of sonic upgrades to albums where I already know every note – this one doesn’t mess with my memories and instead reveals the full glory of the album’s sound.

Being a deluxe edition, of course, the album doesn’t end there! Disc one adds the b-sides / bonus tracks of Jack and Jill (a real contender for an album track) and the humorous Whiplash, as well as the 1989 attempt at Internal Exile which was rightly held over for the next album. Disc two is the demos which is series of early versions of all of the tracks in various states of development. An interesting journey through a soloing guitar filled live demo version of Big Wedge, and many other variants make this an interesting listen if you know the album, and also tease an instrumental track that didn’t make it, The Curious Hill. Discs three and four are collections of live versions of the tracks from the album from across the years, from energetic renditions from shows on the first tour, right through to versions from the 2021 tour, the last outing of Vigil in full, with Fish’s evolving deeper vocal range bringing a beautiful version of Gentleman’s Excuse me in particular.

I didn’t get a chance to review the Blu ray, but did get to hear the audio material from the two self released official bootlegs, Pigpen’s Birthday and For Whom The Bell Tolls. Both of these sets are packed with great versions of the album tracks plus solo Fish reappraisals of many Marillion favourites and some deep album tracks.

Internal Exile

Various label / legal challenges resulted in a bit of a loss of momentum, but Internal Exile emerged relatively unscathed, with the Fish/ Simmons writing partnership presenting some strong material. It’s generally acknowledged that while the individual tracks were strong, the album itself was much less cohesive. Listening today, I don’t believe that’s a correct conclusion. What’s notable here is that for this edition, it’s been decided to change the track order, and to insert the additional CD tracks (originally filed at the end) into the running order – more on that later!

Internal Exile is a varied album for sure, but through it runs a passion and intensity that’s quite incredible. Shadowplay opens the album with deep dark heaviness which the 2024 remix really emphasises, and there are few more powerful vocal deliveries in Fish’s catalogue as the ending of this song. Fan singalong favourite Lucky is next followed by Just Good Friends – the Sam Brown duet version (featured later in the set) is the one that sticks with me, but the original is still strong. Favourite Stranger is a nice breather before the furious and angry Tongues, Fish’s response to many of the voices that spoke against him. It’s only at this point that I realise Credo has slipped down the running order – what prompts this recollection is the appearance of the cover of Something In The Air. To be upfront, I was never a fan of this track, released as a single but a bonus track on the original CD. Light pop relief with dates beats… perhaps… but I find it jarring that it appears mid album. However that’s not the case for the very strong Poet’s Moon which feels like it’s in the right place before Dear Friend and then (at last!) Credo – a superb anthem which again lifts off to new heights with the remix. The title track is next and while there’s nothing wrong with it, I think its folk anthem tones are a bit … well maybe I’ve just heard it too often – it’s the perfect closer, so placing Carnival Man after it doesn’t feel right to me. But track reorganisation quibbles aside, this is a great set of songs and sounds fantastic.

Like Vigil, CD2 is a disc of demos with a lot of interesting twists, variants and might have beens. CD3 starts with the Yin/ Yang versions of IE songs which, at the time, for me at least, came across as stronger than the original album, benefitting from being played live and having arrangements honed. Particular stand out is the Sam Brown duet version of Just Good Friends which to me makes much more sense of the song – and Sam’s performance is superb. The rest of the disc and CD4 are filled with live versions of IE songs which bring the album tracks to life as performance songs. Tongues gains a new level of vitriol with the live vocal and Lucky and Credo show choir master Fish leading the audience in the choruses! Acoustic versions also feature with a great take on Dear Friend and it’s also worth checking out a fantastic version of Internal Exile that segues into the “are you following me” section of Market Square Heroes which sadly fades (but fear not the Uncle Fish & The Crypt Creepers show which it comes from features on the Blu ray!).

Like Vigil I didn’t get to preview the Blu ray but it’s packed with more audio and video material which I’m sure will be fantastic.

Fish has done an excellent job over the years refreshing his catalogue and anyone following will know that these two albums have had contractual complexities which have delayed these revamps happening until now. The fact that they arrive as Fish is preparing his final road dates, feels like the perfect bookend … ending where it began! If you’re a fan, the deluxe editions should be unmissable. If you’re a curious explorer, the 3 CD versions will certainly help your explorations at a more friendly price point.

For full track listings and details see – https://store.fishmusic.scot/music/

OR IF YOU WANT TO LIST THEM

Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors

CD1
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors 2024 Remix
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (Dick/Simmonds) – 8:46
Big Wedge (Dick/Simmonds) – 5:20
State of Mind (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes) – 4:45
The Company (Dick/Simmonds) – 4:04
A Gentleman’s Excuse Me (Dick/Simmonds) – 4:19
The Voyeur (I Like to Watch) (Dick/Simmonds) – 4:46
Family Business (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes) – 5:18
Cliché (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes) – 7:06
View From a Hill (Dick/Gers) – 6:52
Jack and Jill (Dick/Simmonds) – 4:26
Internal Exile (‘89 Version) (Dick/Simmonds) – 4:47
Whiplash (Dick/Simmonds) – 4:21

CD2
Demos
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (Demo) – 8:33
State of Mind (Demo) – 4:43
The Company (Demo) – 4:15
The Voyeur (Demo) – 5:06
Big Wedge (Demo) – 5:41
Big Wedge (Instrumental Demo) – 5:55
Cliché (Demo No Guitar Solo) – 4:34
View From a Hill (Demo) – 6:45
Family Business (Demo) – 5:11
A Gentleman’s Excuse Me (Demo) – 3:59
The Curious Hill (Unused Mickey Simmonds Demo) – 8:34

CD3
Live
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (BBC Town and Country 11/11/89) – 8:44
Family Business (BBC Town and Country 11/11/89) – 5:22
The Voyeur (Hammersmith Odeon 2/4/90 ‘Pigpen’s Birthday’) – 5:38
State of Mind (Hammersmith Odeon 2/4/90 ‘Pigpen’s Birthday’) – 5:07
A Gentleman’s Excuse Me (Hammersmith Odeon 2/4/90 ‘Pigpen’s Birthday’) – 3:53
Cliché (Hammersmith Odeon 2/4/90 ‘Pigpen’s Birthday’) – 6:47
Big Wedge (BBC Nottingham Royal Court 15/11/91) – 6:23
The Company (BBC Nottingham Royal Court 15/11/91) – 4:02
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (BBC Nottingham Royal Court 15/11/91) – 9:21
State of Mind (with Jan Akkerman) (Muziekcentrum Enschede 28/6/02) – 13:18

CD4
Live
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (Düsseldorf Phillips Halle 7/12/91 ‘Uncle Fish and the Crypt Creepers’) – 9:26
Big Wedge (Düsseldorf Phillips Halle 7/12/91 ‘Uncle Fish and the Crypt Creepers’) – 6:31
State of Mind (Haddington Corn Exchange 8/11/91 ‘Derek Dick and his Amazing Dancing Bear’) – 5:40
Family Business (Utrecht Vredenberg 21/3/94 ‘Sushi’) – 5:43
The Company (Utrecht Vredenberg 21/3/94 ‘Sushi’) – 4:08
Cliché (Przemyśl, Poland 97) – 8:08
View From a Hill (Leamington Spa, 24/11/21 ‘Vigil’s End’) – 6:41
A Gentleman’s Excuse Me (Leamington Spa, 24/11/21 ‘Vigil’s End’) – 3:58
Family Business (The Studio, Spittalrig Farm ‘Fishheads Club’ Acoustic Versions 11/3/12) – 6:12
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (The Studio, Spittalrig Farm ‘Fishheads Club’ Acoustic Versions 11/3/12) – 10:35

BLU-RAY
‘Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors’ 2024 Remix – Dolby Atmos and 5.1 Mixes
Documentaries and Promo Videos
Fish Interview ‘Climbing the Hill’ Documentary Film
Mark Wilkinson Interview ‘The Art of Vigil’ Documentary Film
Original Promo Videos for ‘State of Mind’, ‘Big Wedge’ & ‘A Gentleman’s Excuse Me’

Pigpen’s Birthday – Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 2/4/1990
Full ‘Official Bootleg’ Concert Audio
The Voyeur (I Like to Watch) (Dick/Simmonds)
Punch and Judy (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)
State of Mind (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes)
Family Business (Dick/Simmonds)
Assassing (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)
The Company (Dick/Simmonds)
Script for a Jester’s Tear (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)
A Gentleman’s Excuse Me (Dick/Simmonds)
Introduction of the Band/Happy Birthday
Sugar Mice (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (Dick/Simmonds)
Kayleigh (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)
Lavender (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)
Cliché (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes)
Big Wedge (Dick/Simmonds)
Internal Exile (Dick/Simmonds)

For Whom the Bells Toll! – Edinburgh Playhouse New Year’s Eve 1991
Full ‘Official Bootleg’ Concert Audio
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (Dick/Simmonds)
Credo (Dick/Simmonds/Usher/Boult)
Tongues (Dick/Simmonds/Usher/Boult)
Family Business (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes)
Incubus (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)
Giz a Bun (Dick)
The Company (Dick/Simmonds)
Shadowplay (Dick/Simmonds)
Dear Friend (Dick/Simmonds/Boult)
The Bells/Happy New Year
Lucky (Dick/Simmonds/Boult)
Big Wedge (Dick/Simmonds)
Heart of Lothian (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)
Forgotten Sons (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)
Flower of Scotland (Williamson/Buchanan)
Internal Exile (Dick/Simmonds)
Market Square Heroes (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosley)

Internal Exile

CD1
Internal Exile 2024 Remix
Shadowplay (Dick/Simmonds) – 06:29
Lucky (Dick/Boult/Simmonds) – 05:01
Just Good Friends (Close) (Dick/Usher/Boult/Simmonds) – 05:57
Favourite Stranger (Dick/Usher) – 05:58
Tongues (Dick/Simmonds/Usher/Boult) – 06:34
Something in the Air (Keen) – 05:10
Poets Moon (Dick/Simmonds/Boult/Usher) – 04:23
Dear Friend (Dick/Boult/Simmonds) – 04:11
Credo (Dick/Simmonds/Boult/Usher) – 06:39
Internal Exile (Dick/Boult/Simmonds) – 04:44
Carnival Man (Dick/Boult/McKenna/Simmonds/Usher/Paton) – 06:28

CD2
Demos
Lucky (Demo) – 05:04
Favourite Stranger (Demo) – 06:04
Tongues (Demo) – 06:26
Credo (Demo Guitar Version) – 06:52
Dear Friend (Demo/Jam) – 10:08
Poets Moon (Demo) – 05:14
Internal Exile (‘89 Demo) – 05:12
Dear Friend (Demo) – 03:36
Shadowplay (Demo) – 05:44
Favourite Stranger (Demo) – 03:05
Just Good Friends (Instrumental Demo) – 05:20

CD3
Studio & Live Versions
Credo (Studio Re-recordings 1995 – Produced by James Cassidy, 2024 Calum Malcolm Remixes) – 06:45
Just Good Friends (with Sam Brown) (Studio Re-recordings 1995 – Produced by James Cassidy, 2024 Calum Malcolm Remixes) – 05:49
Lucky (Studio Re-recordings 1995 – Produced by James Cassidy, 2024 Calum Malcolm Remixes) – 04:58
Favourite Stranger (Studio Re-recordings 1995 – Produced by James Cassidy, 2024 Calum Malcolm Remixes) – 07:08
Internal Exile (BBC Sessions Nottingham Royal Court 15/11/91) – 04:42
Tongues (BBC Sessions Nottingham Royal Court 15/11/91) – 05:59
Credo (BBC Sessions Nottingham Royal Court 15/11/91) – 07:05
Lucky (Utrecht Vredenberg 21/3/94 ‘Sushi’) – 04:59
Poets Moon (Utrecht Vredenberg 21/3/94 ‘Sushi’) – 04:12
Just Good Friends (Utrecht Vredenberg 21/3/94 ‘Sushi’) – 06:17
Internal Exile (Utrecht Vredenberg 21/3/94 ‘Sushi’) – 04:42
Credo (Utrecht Vredenberg 21/3/94 ‘Sushi’) – 07:04

CD4
Live Versions
Shadowplay (Dusseldorf Phillips Halle 7/12/91) – 06:31
Credo (Dusseldorf Phillips Halle 7/12/91) – 07:15
Lucky (Dusseldorf Phillips Halle 7/12/91) – 05:02
Tongues (Dusseldorf Phillips Halle 7/12/91) – 06:23
Dear Friend (Dusseldorf Phillips Halle 7/12/91) – 04:14
Internal Exile (Dusseldorf Phillips Halle 7/12/91) – 04:46
Favourite Stranger (St Mary’s Church Haddington 27/8/06 ‘Communion’ Acoustic) – 05:50
Just Good Friends (St Mary’s Church Haddington 27/8/06 ‘Communion’ Acoustic) – 06:02
Lucky (TJ’s Newport 27/6/94 ‘Fortunes of War’ Acoustic) – 06:06
Dear Friend (Mean Fiddler London 29/6/94 ‘Fortunes of War’ Acoustic) – 04:01
Shadowplay (Edinburgh Playhouse 31/1/91 ‘For Whom the Bells Toll’) – 06:46
Internal Exile (Rynek, Przemysl Poland 10/10/97 ‘Sunsets on Empire’) – 05:01

BLU-RAY
‘Internal Exile’ 2024 Remix – Dolby Atmos and 5.1 Mixes
Fish Interview ‘Internal Exile – A Boy’s Own Story’ Documentary Film
Mark Wilkinson Interview ‘The Art of Internal Exile’ Documentary Film
Original promo videos for ‘Credo’, ‘Just Good Friends’, and ‘Internal Exile’

‘Uncle Fish and The Crypt Creepers’ Dusseldorf Phillips Halle 7/12/91 Full ‘Official Bootleg’ Concert Audio
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (Dick/Simmonds)
Credo (Dick/Simmonds/Boult/Usher)
Tongues (Dick/Simmonds/Usher/Boult)
Family Business (Dick/Simmonds)
Incubus (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)
Shadowplay (Dick/Simmonds)
Dear Friend (Dick/Boult/Simmonds)
The Company (Dick/Simmonds)
Lucky (Dick/Simmonds/Boult)
Big Wedge & Windswept Thumb Acapella (Dick/Simmonds & Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)
Heart of Lothian (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)
Fugazi (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)
Internal Exile (Dick/Simmonds)
Market Square Heroes (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)
Forgotten Sons (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)

‘Derek Dick and his Amazing Electric Bear’ Haddington Corn Exchange 3/11/91 Full ‘Official Bootleg’ Concert Audio
Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (Dick/Simmonds)
Credo (Dick/Simmonds/Boult/Usher)
State of Mind (Dick/Simmonds/Lindes)
Tongues (Dick/Simmonds/Usher/Boult)
Family Business (Dick/Simmonds)
Incubus (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)
Shadowplay (Dick/Simmonds)
Dear Friend (Dick/Boult/Simmonds)
Lucky (Dick/Simmonds/Boult)
Big Wedge (Dick/Simmonds)
Fugazi (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)
Heart of Lothian (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)
The Company (Dick/Simmonds)
Forgotten Sons (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely)
Internal Exile (Dick/Simmonds)
Market Square Heroes (Dick/Rothery/Kelly/Trewavas/Mosely