Ash - Free All Angels (2001)

Ash's image as precocious teenagers was a hard one to dispel. While they moved into their twenties with this album their tunes continued into an adolescent vein. There is nothing wrong with this of course; it's just that an album of full sugar sweet pop can sometimes grate. Perhaps the biggest hurdle Ash have to overcome was the suspicion that many of their best tunes are quite throwaway. They tend to be pleasing on the ear for an initial period but somehow lose their charm over time. The cause is their direct approach to song writing. The effect is legions of admirers but a distinct lack of devoted followers. Take 'Shining Light' for example. This is a superb, buoyant pop song with a crystal clear chorus and several notable guitar moments. What more could you ask for, you might ask? Well, for one, in order for music to endure it must reach the parts other tunes don't. While not completely formulaic, Ash's music largely follows the angle they forged back in their 'Trailer' days. 'Candy' is a case of a song way past its grow up date; the strings sound artificial and unnecessary and the vocal delivery is just too tired to be affecting. This is dross and should really have fallen down one of the cracks in the studio floor.

Elsewhere Tim Wheeler has better success. 'Submission' has full on Primal Scream tendencies. You almost expect the singer to breathe Kowalski but of course he doesn't. There is a darker plot at work that provides some solace from the stomach retching happiness elsewhere. 'Someday' is also quite neat, even if there is a drafty hollow lurking at its core. The subtle string arrangements are welcome but overall it's a little too loose to really land a sucker punch. With a bit more work this could have been much better. The power pop continues unabated on 'Pacific Palisades'. The drumming is manic and while we're on the subject I have to say that Rick McMurray, Ash's drummer, really gets on my nerves. He just seems out of sorts in the rock and roll scheme of things. I always get the feeling he should be holding a petrol pump rather than a drumstick. I know this sounds cruel and I guess to be fair to him he was there with that shambolic hairstyle well before David Beckham.

'Burn Baby Burn' is the quintessential shiny pop song that Ash hold the patent on. Bleeding glorious jangling riffs through Wheelers vocal onslaught succeeds in raising the pulse. 'Walking Barefoot' also pushes all the right buttons and lends a touching reminder of those long summer days as a child. It's about as grand as Ash get without sounding out of their depth. 'Sometimes' is superbly fresh; the fine guitar barrage never drowns out Wheeler's melodic vocals. 'Nicole' is also hugely impressive. It takes its cue from alt Americana and friskily appears at the other end with distinction. 'There's A Star' completes a treble of strong tracks. Big, bold and fulfilling its own huge aspiration, nothing else on the album really comes close. Free All Angels is let down by 'World Domination', the final track. It's an aimless punk rock workout that puts a shabby seal on the album. It doesn't quite leave a bad taste in the mouth but that let down feeling is hard to dispel.

'Free All Angels' proved that Ash needed to reset their musical compass. Their undoubted talent would see them better served down avenues that don't rely on teenage observations (listen to the childish romp that is 'Cherry Bomb' and you'll see what I mean). Four albums and still peddling the same subject matter tends to turn people off. A new direction would see the band flourish. On the positive side given the talent on offer worldwide domination will come. 'Free All Angels' is good fare and taken in moderation it will certainly brighten up your day. A success in anybody's book then.

Rating: 5/10



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