Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Wishbone Ash
Label: Solid Rockhouse Records
Release: 2014
Rating: 4.5/5
»Blue Horizon« is the twenty-second studio album from British prog/hard rock heavyweights Wishbone Ash, and the third in a row recorded by the current lineup, something they last pulled off in the seventies. In the meantime, Wishbone Ash, led by guitarist/vocalist Andy Powell, won the legal battle over the band’s name, which came about because of a band of the same name fronted by former member Martin Turner, so they could finally get back to gigging and writing new music in peace. Three years have passed since the previous studio album »Elegant Stealth« (2011), which isn’t a lot, but the songwriting on »Blue Horizon« has still changed quite a bit, and for the better.
The end result is a rather different studio beast compared to its fairly punchy predecessor. The first big difference is that »Blue Horizon« has far subtler arrangements than »Elegant Stealth« and more ‘retro’ seventies pastoral tunes that will remind plenty of people of the ‘good old seventies’, when Wishbone Ash were at the peak of their creative powers. On the other hand, there’s still enough hard rock and bluesy guitar work on a few of the tracks to get the blood pumping for anyone who happens to see Wishbone Ash ‘only’ as a hard rock band, and even that stuff is mostly played in a more complex way than was usual on their albums from the past decade. The famous twin guitar harmonies, which have to be on every Wishbone Ash record, are back again thanks to the dream guitar duo of Andy Powell and Muddy Manninen, and the same goes for the nostalgic vocal parts, which have also always been one of their trademarks.
The opener »Take It Back«, with its pastoral arrangements and Celtic atmosphere, is even one of the best things they’ve done in the last twenty years, since its sound is pure ‘retro seventies’ and will take listeners right back to their legendary album »Argus« (1972), still their best to this day. The ethereal central arrangement is packed with melancholy guitar lines, over which wistful vocal harmonies are layered under the command of the indestructible Powell. There are even strings audible in the background, which crank up the dramatic atmosphere even further. Definitely a surprisingly prog-flavored start to the album and one of the loveliest surprises on »Blue Horizon«.
»Deep Blue«, marked by a bluesy guitar phrase, is a somewhat less interesting offering that, thanks to its mighty guitar riff, shines more light on their hard rock side, but all fans of twin guitar harmonies will enjoy the crafty ‘duels’ between Powell and Manninen. The excellent »Strange How Things Come Around« is a clever experiment in blending classic Wishbone Ash sonic elements with ethereal female vocal harmonies, which together create a pleasant, romantic atmosphere. The melodic bass lines courtesy of Bob Skeat play an important part too, while drummer Joe Crabtree pulls off one of the album’s best tempo changes, after which the famous twin guitar harmonies ‘blossom’.
»Being One« boasts a relaxed vibe and another splendid vocal turn from Powell, while subtle guitar passages pave the way for a relatively complex instrumental section, the kind Wishbone Ash haven’t dished up very often in the last decade. The closing section is a real feast for the ears of all lovers of twin guitar barrages. The nostalgic »Way Down South«, with its melodic rock chorus and positive atmosphere, is another one of the »Blue Horizon« highlights, and the most pleasing and surprising thing is how youthful the band sounds on some of the arrangements. The guitar harmonies flow at just the right moments, while subtle rhythmic nuances provide a few almost contemplative moments.
The level of subtlety goes up another notch on the excellent »Tally Ho!«, where the band once again successfully conjures up the pastoral magic of the seventies. Here too the high point is a mighty chorus, while the melancholy guitar phrases between the transitions even faintly recall the Deep Purple classic »Soldier of Fortune«. »Mary Jane« is a common slang term for the well-known intoxicating herb, but also one of the prettiest English girls’ names (it’s also the name of the girlfriend of a popular Marvel superhero who spins webs). Still, in this case it’s a pretty clichéd blues rocker with ‘swaying’ guitar phrases, which makes it one of the less interesting moments on »Blue Horizon«, despite its splendid twin guitar harmonies and a mouthwatering helping of guitar soloing.
With a song title like »American Century«, it’s immediately clear that the English band is going for sarcastic, if not socially critical lyrics. The opening guitar harmonies sound a little obscure this time, almost black, before a sly transition into a melodic section that all fans of classic Wishbone Ash will love. Powell’s vocal performance, helped by the backing vocal lines, is once again dreamy, while the three-part harmonies pull us back to the ‘good old days’ again. The title track, which runs at a mid-tempo, is a bit punchier, and once again it’s a fun hybrid of prog and hard rock. That means this composition has no shortage of the classic Wishbone Ash nostalgic chorus, plus a few complex tempo changes and some longer instrumental sections.
The closing »All There is To Say«, a fantastic finale to this excellent album, opens with Celtic guitar harmonies and a drum march, which together with the rustic-sounding strings feels like the eve of a decisive battle, while the central riff slightly recalls the immortal classic »Throw Down the Sword«, which will of course delight all the longtime fans most. Subtle guitar harmonies and a somewhat more theatrical vocal approach from Powell than usual are the main ‘culprits’ behind one of the most interesting Wishbone Ash compositions in their long career.
»Blue Horizon« ranks among the best Wishbone Ash albums ever. On a few tracks, it even captures the spiritual essence of the classic lineup from the first half of the seventies. That’s exactly what Andy Powell and his comrades set out to do: make an album that will, after a long time, win back everyone who lost touch with their music after the classic seventies albums, while also bringing them closer to the newer material, where Wishbone Ash sound like a modern prog/heavy rock band, but still with their own unique, distinctive sound (which is what matters most). As is almost the rule for this legendary group, »Blue Horizon« also has one or two not-so-inspired tracks that will probably be forgotten quickly, while the best stuff on the album will already be regular live classics on the next concert tour. So with »Blue Horizon«, Wishbone Ash have proven that after all these decades they still have a high level of songwriting inspiration and the ability to refresh their sound, which truly earns them a deep bow.
Lineup
Andy Powell – guitar, lead vocals
Muddy Manninen – guitar, backing vocals
Bob Skeat – bass guitar, backing vocals
Joseph Crabtree – drums and percussion, backing vocals, guitar solo (outro) on ‘Take It Back’
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Pat McManus – strings, bouzouki
Tom Greenwood – organ
Lucy Underhill – backing vocals
Richard Young – percussion
Production
Tom Greenwood, Andy Powell and Joe Crabtree
Tracklist
1. Take It Back
2. Deep Blues
3. Strange How Things Come Back Around
4. Being One
5. Way Down South
6. Tally Ho!
7. Mary Jane
8. American Century
9. Blue Horizon
10. All There Is To Say
