WISHBONE ASH – Blue Horizon (2014)

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Classic Rock icons WISHBONE ASH just released their new album, “Blue Horizon” directly debuting into the German music charts at #74.
If you can set aside the bitter dispute over the trading name among original members, there is no doubt that Andy Powell has worked tirelessly to produce albums that are completely befitting the Wishbone Ash heritage. He’s also regularly treading the boards to ensure that legacy is perpetuated.

“Blue Horizon” is more diverse than the last album (presented on this blog) in terms of the songwriting input, with guitarist Muddy Manninen prominent, Andy Powell’s son Aynsley contributing two songs, and there’s also one from former guitarist Roger Filgate, the excellent “Strange (How Things Come Around)”.
This new album also sees the return of Pat McManus on two tracks including the co-write “All There Is To Say”.
The CD starts in classic Ash fashion, with “Take It Back” setting the tone featuring those trademark attractive vocal harmonies before the inevitable guitar breakdown. The hard, driving rock of follower “Deep Blues” shows how fresh and alive the band sound, with lots of inspiration and offering no hint at all at the length of the band’s career, except, perhaps, in the depth of skill and experience displayed.

“Strange (How Things Come Around)”, written by former Wishbone Ash guitarist Roger Filgate, sees the band wander gently up another stylistic avenue with a gently funky bass groove underpinning sweet, smooth guitar work that ensnares the listener in fine threads of liquid silk whilst the vocals drift slowly across the surface. It’s a lovely song and offers a perfect moment of calm before the rumbling, progressive “Being One” with its seventies feel and rich harmonies.
The somewhat soft rocker “Way Down South” is reprieved by the superior guitar coda and the band are not averse to some contemporary critique on “Tally Ho!” which features some of the best guitar interplay on the album.

Aynsley Powell’s “American Century” introduces the band’s prog tendencies that have been present since their early years and is a nice nod in that direction.
The title track, one of four tracks written by Muddy, returns to the strong bluesy feel evident on track two, albeit offset with a richly progressive vein on the beautiful chorus that sends shivers down the spine, while Andy’s warm tones do perfect justice to the elegant lyrics and the stunning harmonies.
The final track, the lengthy “All There Is To Say”, has a strong folk feel that dances brightly over the various themes of the album and draws the whole together leaving you bereft that the music has come to an end.

“Blue Horizon” is an album to treasure, not just Classic Rock or Wishbone Ash fans, but for all music fans. Covering a wide variety of styles, the album is a beautifully coherent artistic statement that stands tall both as a musicians’ album, thanks to the devastating prowess of the members, but also as an album that demonstrates the power of the song.
Wishbone Ash conjure up memories of the last 40 years in rock, and you’re left once again stunned that a band that has seen so many years’ service can sound so utterly vital, so brilliantly beautiful and inspired that you’re left with the feeling that “Blue Horizon” should be played as a blueprint to all aspiring bands, as a demonstration of what a deep-seated passion for music can allow you to achieve.
Very Recommended.

01 – Take It Back
02 – Deep Blues
03 – Strange (How Things Come Around)
04 – Being One
05 – Way down South
06 – Tally Ho!
07 – Mary Jane
08 – American Century
09 – Blue Horizon
10 – All There Is To Say

Andy Powell – guitar, lead vocals
Muddy Manninen – guitar, vocals
Bob Skeat – bass, vocals
Joseph Crabtree – drums & percussion

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www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/59402178/-/Product.html
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