Rich’s Rapidfire Recommendations – bite-sized metal morsels to let you know about albums that have grabbed Rich Davenport by the ears, that we hope you’ll enjoy too! ROCK ON!
Artist: Martin Turner
Album: “Written In The Stars”
Label: Dirty Dog Discs
Released: 4th September 2015
Tracklisting:
1. THE BIG BANG (OVERTURE)
2. THE BEAUTY OF CHAOS
3. WRITTEN IN THE STARS
4. LOVERS
5. VAPOUR TRAIL
6. THE LONELY STAR
7. FOR MY LADY
8. PRETTY LITTLE GIRLS
9. FALLING SANDS
10. MYSTIFY ME
11. INTERSTELLAR ROCKSTAR
Martin Turner – Written In The Stars. Founding original member of Wishbone Ash returns with his first studio album in way too many years. Martin’s contributions to the hallmark sound of Wishbone Ash’s classic Mark I and Mark II line-ups were many; his vocals, his songwriting, those resounding bass lines, and, equally important, his input into the way the band’s signature harmonies were written and orchestrated. No-one would doubt the wealth of talent found among the three key Ash guitar heroes back in their halcyon era, Ted Turner, Andy Powell and Laurie Wisefield, all of whom are worthy of inclusion in any list of their more lauded peers, but those twin guitar lines also sprang regularly from the musical imagination of Mr Turner, who would channel his classical influences into the melodies and harmonic structures that rang out across that run of much loved albums from the self-titled debut in 1970, to “Just Testing” in 1980.
“Written in the Stars” shows that Martin Turner is still more than capable of delivering the goods as a songwriter and performer, and gives an insight into how those key musical aspects he brought to Wishbone Ash sound in a contemporary setting, with a modern production and a new band of stellar musical compatriots. It flows well when listened to in one sitting, the material is memorable and enjoyable throughout, and I’ve found myself hitting “repeat” to listen through again on more than one occasion. And although it’s not a retro album, “Written in the Stars” is about as close as you’ll get to the classic sound of Wishbone Ash.
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 