MARTIN TURNER – Written In The Stars (2015)
As it says under his name on the front cover of his new album “Written In The Stars“, MARTIN TURNER is a ‘founding member of Wishbone Ash‘. And if you needed any confirmation of that, settle down, relax and soak up the creative, unmistakably Wishbone-like and classic rock sounds this album serves up.
Amazingly this is Turner’s first studio outing in some eighteen years – all the more surprising when you take into account just how active he’s been on the live circuit during all of that time.
However with the supremely confident introduction this album is blessed with, you’d never know, “The Big Bang (Overture)” segueing into “The Beauty Of Chaos”. The first is a short instrumental, the latter a lengthy one. Together they make a grand statement and one that is rammed home marvellously through the album’s magnificent title track; the harmony twin vocals and twin guitars offering the album’s most obvious nod to Turner’s past.
With long term guitarist Ray Hatfield leaving the band towards the end of the creation of “Written In The Stars”, both he and his replacement feature across the album, Misha Nikola making a mighty statement during the title cut, “Pretty Little Girls” and “Interstellar Rock Star”.
Hatfield however was no slouch, hence alongside the ever present six string of Danny Wilson, the almost melodic rock waves of “Lovers” packs an unexpected punch, while “The Lonely Star” offers a beautiful, balanced track where the only vocals are a lone solitary whisper of the song’s name provided by Austin Wilson. The guitar trade offs, while subtle here, are blissful and when combined with the poised, yet powerful bass from Turner himself, really something to behold.
Vocally Turner is in top form, easily handling the jostling “Pretty Little Girls”, thriving on the easier vibe of “Falling Sands” and adding a dreamy, otherworldly quality to the Space Rock explosion of “Interstellar Rock Star”.
There really isn’t a downside to this album, each and every track crafted, yet passionate, while the performances are of the highest order wrapped by a warm lush production.
For fans of any sort of classy, poised rock with an eye on the full rich sound of the ’70s, Martin Turner’s new album is a must.
After all, it’s Written In The Stars…
01 – The Big Bang (Overture)
02 – The Beauty Of Chaos
03 – Written In The Stars
04 – Lovers
05 – Vapour Trail
06 – The Lonely Star
07 – For My Lady
08 – Pretty Little Girls
09 – Falling Sands
10 – Mystify Me
11 – Interstellar Rockstar
Martin Turner – vocals, bass, keyboards
Danny Willson – guitars
Misha Nikolic – guitars
Ray Hatfield – guitars
Tim Brown – drums
BUY IT !
www.amazon.de/Written-The-Stars-Martin-Turner/dp/B012B84RRA
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