Purple Through the Fishtank

Description

Purple Through the Fishtank is the sophomore full-length album by the British contemporary worship band Phatfish fronted by Lou Fellingham, released on Pamplin Music in 2000, distributed in the US by Pamplin Distribution and in the UK and Europe by Word Music. The album was recorded by Chris Davie – assisted by Todd Gunnerson, Robert Charles, J.C. Monterossa, and Tony Palacios – in both the US (at The Sound Kitchen in Franklin and Trigger Happy Studio in Nashville, Tennessee) and the UK (at Luna Sound Studios in Brighton, England). Additional engineering by Alan Shacklock, Luke Fellingham, and Robert Charles. Mixed by J.R. McNeely at The Sound Kitchen in Cool Springs. Produced by Alan Shacklock with additional production by Nathan Fellingham.

I wonder if the favourites of the festivals have an identity crisis? The album is magnetic, compelling – right from the insistent, imperative opening track «Kingdom Coming», we are into strong, driven songs, great writing, up-front lyrics – it’s all there. But Louise Fellingham‘s lead vocals don’t quite rise to the occasion when she has to cut loose. She doesn’t quite have the edge for some of the songs. No matter, she has enough range and fragility in her voice to carry most of the material convincingly, with excellent bgvs – as on the mid-paced «I Have Come» and the anthem-like «Holy, Holy» (where the backing swells to a choir). For me, it all comes together in the heart-felt ballad «What Would I Do» and worth it for this track alone, As for the identity bit: one minute Chrissie Hynde, the next, a little bit of Texas, By the third play, it didn’t really matter; it’s a great album. Of course, the real star is Alan Shacklock. He’s almost an old-timer now, but still producing with such a sure touch. I can live with the cryptic title and the fact that the ubiquitous Chris Eaton shows up again – this time in the choir; Phatfish have big ideas and definitely manage to see them through. [Phil Thomson, Cross Rhythms, June 2000]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/purple-through-the-fishtank/613843024)

CD tracklist:

01. Kingdom Coming
02. Help You
03. You
04. Come Near To Me
05. What Would I Do?
06. Resolve
07. What Love
08. Second Best
09. I Have Come
10. Holy, Holy

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