BONA FIDE

Sometimes having released a stone-cold classic album like Argus is an albatross. I mean, many people remain attached to it, ignoring anything else from the band. Truth be told, Wishbone Ash didn't do great, or even just good, things in the 1980s and the 1990s (mostly, at least), numerous line-up changes...perhaps it is no wonder why the majority of the fan base drifted off the band. But, to my ears at least, this album shouldn't go unnoticed from their fans. It's the only album that the guitarist Ben Granfelt is Andy Powell's partner, but the guy pulled off to add some great tracks to the Wishbone Ash's catalogue and also contribute with some killer solos. In fact, the most interesting tracks are his...The album contains one of my favourite songs e-v-e-r and this is Faith, Hope and Love. The second solo is one of the best ever performed and I also can relate with the lyrics. There are also Almighty Blues that kicks off the album in exactly the way it describes, Ancient Remedy with its mesmerizing riff and Come Rain, Come Shine which is quite unusual for Wishbone Ash and I was taken a bit by surprise, but now I simply love it. Only Peace falls a bit short, it sounds to me as if they just jammed over some chord progressions, nothing bad, but nothing memorable. I enjoyed very much the rhythm section provided by Bob Skeat (bass) and Ray Weston (drums). The twin guitars are here, most notably on the two instrumental tracks Bona Fide and Peace. The bonus tracks isn't anything that somebody should go after. Couldn't they come up with a better cover?

Excellent addition to any rock music collection (not necessarily prog).