Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Wishbone Ash
Label: MCA Records
Release: 1971
Rating: 4.5/5
»Pilgrimage«, the second studio outing from cult British prog/hard rockers Wishbone Ash, was an interesting sonic contrast to their much bluesier debut. It threw the doors wide open to a folk-infused, acoustic-leaning pastoral element that would leave a big mark on plenty of albums to come. You could say the original Wishbone Ash lineup, with guitarist/vocalist Andy Powell (today the only original member), second guitarist Ted Turner, bassist/vocalist Martin Turner and drummer Steve Upton, took a major step toward maturity at this point in their career. Through their twin-guitar attack they cemented their role as revolutionaries, crafting pioneering harmonized guitar lines that left a big mark on a whole legion of later heavy metal bands. Compared to the 1970 debut, »Pilgrimage« has way more pastoral and at times slightly psychedelic-tinged improvisation, which you feel especially during the title track.
The instrumental »Vas Dis«, a cover of American jazz organist Jack McDuff, makes for an interesting opener and a successful transformation of a traditional jazz standard into an experimentally spiced hard rocker, full of vivid guitar and bass variations. The aforementioned title classic has a longer psychedelic-pastoral intro with a pile of improvisation going on in the background, while the lead guitar up front keeps playing the same tune throughout. Just as the danger of too much repetition creeps in, there’s a sudden jump in tempo into an energetic instrumental section with a whole pleiad of improvisational mischief and bristling guitar passages. The famous guitar harmonies between Powell and Ted Turner (and all his successors) were always this cult band’s main ‘weapon’, but here it has to be stressed that Martin Turner wasn’t just a superb singer and songwriter. He was also an extremely cunning and inventive bassist, and you can clearly feel it right here. Paired with Upton’s colorful drum transitions, Turner’s bass adds a latent jazzy touch to the pastoral aura that dominates most of this composition. The ending brings a sudden surge of rather dark atmosphere, courtesy of irritated, edgy guitar phrases.
The blues-rock-spiced energy catalyst »Jail Bait«, a classic rock fantasy about the ‘forbidden fruit’ and the inevitable disappointment that follows, carries an American Midwest atmosphere and is surely the best-known piece on »Pilgrimage«. It quickly became a Wishbone Ash live staple, mainly thanks to its exceptionally tasteful multi-part guitar harmonies and that aforementioned ‘salon’ vibe. On the short instrumental »Alone«, sophisticated folky arrangements take over through the subtle use of acoustic guitar, conjuring a genuine ‘olde English’ pastoral mood.
The equally pastoral-flavored ballad »Lullaby«, another subtle instrumental excursion, is one of the album’s best moments. The most striking thing about it is that, in its structure and refined use of multi-part guitar harmonies, it strongly influenced the ballad inspirations of many later heavy metal heroes. The folk/heavy rock hybrid »Valediction« has an almost troubadour-like mood thanks to mighty vocal harmonies that strongly recall the ones Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young used to practice back in the day. Meanwhile, the multi-part guitar harmonies crank up the indescribable melancholy that rules this almost ‘forgotten’ but excellent Wishbone Ash standard.
The album closes with a more-than-10-minute return to blues rock territory, »Where Were You Tomorrow«, perhaps the weakest moment on »Pilgrimage« if you really had to pick one. This unexpected, sudden slide under the blues rock ‘umbrella’ has a mischievous, almost danceable opening rhythm, followed by a long instrumental section of turbulent guitar improvisations that grow into a jam all their own. The track was recorded live at a gig in Leicester on June 14, 1971, which was undoubtedly a pretty unusual move. The studio version, still interesting today for all fans of witty jams, can’t be found on any later album, which makes it a true one-of-a-kind rarity.
»Pilgrimage« was the next step forward in developing Wishbone Ash’s distinctive sonic vision and ambient magic. Only one small step remained before the next phase, the one that earned them a well-deserved breakthrough among rock’s giants. Their third album and the ultimate peak of a long and colorful career, the unforgettable masterpiece »Argus« (1972), deepened and built out the core, signature sonic elements laid down by »Pilgrimage«, their first foray into the pastoral fields of old England, which long ago became part of the distant past.
Lineup
Andy Powell – guitar, vocals
Ted Turner – guitar, vocals
Martin Turner – bass, vocals
Steve Upton – drums
Production
Derek Lawrence
Track list
1. Vas Dis
2. The Pilgrim
3. Jail Bait
4. Alone
5. Lullaby
6. Valediction
7. Where Were You Tomorrow (live at De Montfort Hall, Leicester, June 14, 1971)
