WISHBONE ASH – Elegant Stealth (2011)
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WISHBONE ASH, the veteran Classic Rock band with a 42 year career, is releasing a brand new studio album, “Elegant Stealth”.
One of the most influential acts in rock history, their patented twin-lead guitar attack was the motto for many big names such as Thin Lizzy.
Longtime founding member Andy Powell has kept the same group intact for a few years now and it has paid off.
Powell handles the lead vocals and trades licks with Finland’s guitar wizard Muddy Manninen. Bassist Bob Skeat, a 14-year veteran of the band and in-demand studio musician, sets the pace with Joe Crabtree, one of the best of Britain’s new breed of drummers.
This Wishbone Ash on the new millennium has a more straight Classic Rock sound blending Hard Rock with soaring harmonies and dueling guitars that rival any active band that is playing out or recording today.
Opener “Reason To Believe” is a pedal to the metal rocker that only this band can produce; signature twin-lead melodies and complex harmonic solos. Same with “Big Issues”, offering a thumping rhythm section leading the way into some extended scalding hot blues-rock licks.
“Man with No Name” has great lyrics and a perfect song structure. This track is based around a 12-string acoustic guitar which sounds really big and strong. The drumming is awesome; Joe Crabtree did a great job here.
But there are many different sounds and textures on this album as on “Heavy Weather”, one of the most complex and fascinating tracks on the recording, showcasing the excellent musicality this talented group of musicians have at their command. It’s a pulsating and groovy track with some progressive overtones and a syncopated rhythm.
Another example is instrumental gem “Mud-Slick”, where the dueling guitars and a whirling dervish organ sweep you away and keep the strong momentum going throughout the entire listen.
“Migrant Worker” isn’t a typical Wishbone Ash song. It’s a swingin’ rocker with a killer wah-wah heavy funk riff. “Searching for Satellites” has a slow rock tempo where the vocal arrangements steals the show, full of beautiful harmonies.
Wishbone Ash’s “Elegant Stealth” is a return for the band to their trademark twin guitar leads and songs that are both musically impressive and lyrically deep. They have created an album that stands easily amongst the best the band have ever made. There is nothing not to like here, this band is like a fine wine that just keeps getting better with age, everything sound in place, with stupendous musicianship and production / mix.
While Wishbone Ash may slide under the radar when people discuss classic bands these days, “Elegant Stealth” may do a lot to change that.
Don’t miss this Classic Rock / old school British Hard Rock lesson.
Highly Recommended.
01 – Reason To Believe
02 – Warm Tears
03 – Man With No Name
04 – Can’t Go It Alone
05 – Give It Up
06 – Searching For Satellites
07 – Heavy Weather
08 – Mud-Slick
09 – Big Issues
10 – Migrant Worker
11 – Invisible Thread
12. Reason To Believe [Remix] (Hidden Track)
– Andrew Powell / vocals and guitars
– Muddy Manninen / guitars
– Bob Skeat / bass
– Joe Crabtree / drums
Guest musicians:
– Don Airey (Deep Purple) / Hammond organ (8)
– Pat McManus (Mama’s Boys) / fiddle (4)
BUY IT !
www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/26551991/Elegant-Stealth/Product.html
