Steve Hillage did his musical apprenticeship within the bands Uriel and Khan, and performed with Kevin Ayers in Decadence. He then went from being a fan of Gong to a member of their traditional line-up of the early-to-mid-Nineteen Seventies. However when that fell aside after the You album, it was time for the famous guitar participant and musical experimentalist to go his personal means. On Could 3, 1975, Hillage’s personal title appeared on a UK chart for the primary time, with the album Fish Rising.
Hillage had recorded the album whereas he was nonetheless a member of Gong. Firstly, this was in periods at Virgin Information’ common studio hangout on the Manor, in September 1974. He accomplished it on the Manor Cell early within the new 12 months, with many mates and colleagues contributing. They included these from Gong akin to Didier Malherbe, Pierre Moerlen, Miquette Giraudy, Mike Howlett, and Tim Blake. A few of them glided by tongue-in-cheek “noms de disque” for the challenge, with Hillage himself listed as Steve Hillfish.
Setting the scene for ‘L’
The album was a far-reaching space-rock soundscape that set the scene for Steve’s enormous solo success of the following years, notably with the follow-up L. For now, Fish Rising provided such formidable, episodic voyages because the 17-minute “Solar Musick Suite” and 15-minute “Aftaglid.”
Hearken to the Prog Rocks playlist, which options “The Salmon Song” from Fish Rising and tracks by Gong, Camel, Spooky Tooth, Rick Wakeman and numerous others.
Fish Rising debuted on the UK chart at No.33, its peak place in a three-week run on the survey. The album was an admirable automobile for Hillage’s terribly nimble guitar taking part in and the supporting musicianship of his mates. It’s turn into an necessary, and considerably underrated, ingredient within the burgeoning progressive rock scene of the mid-Nineteen Seventies.
Purchase or stream Fish Rising.
