WISHBONE ASH

One of the ups about these trying times is that there is plenty of it in which to reflect, assess and re-assess. Back in my day when afghans an flares ruled a goodish part of the Earth WA was part of the musical cannon . But while we were music rich we were cash poor, so I had Argus and Pilgrimage and never bought or borrowed the eponymous first album. And at some point down the track WA and I drifted apart and we lost touch. I don't think going to the Number the Brave tour helped, (unfortunately the only time I saw the band).Despite me wanting to love the gig it seemed a workaday affair from a band sadly with no real identity, purpose or direction in a new musical landscape; no raison d'etre except the pay cheque. But here is the thing; now needing more than the ever dependable and the odd flurry into the new(ish) I have dusted down some the stuff I haven't played in years even decades. I'd forgotten how stonkingly good Argus and Pilgrimage are and was curious as to where they might have come from...Wishbone Ash is a fascinating and intriguing record; charting a band undergoing a metamorphosis from a bluesy boogie heritage to one finding it's prog voice culminating with the aptly named Phoenix. While the rest of the album is much more than simple ashes Phoenix takes us to a different magnificent place and I remember why I love that old flame