Wishbone Ash
Just Testing

Oh, finally a flashy and effective cover for Wishbone Ash! The first after a modest streak of six consecutive ones, although in reality, it's nothing groundbreaking, and it certainly doesn't reach the impact of the captivating warrior at dawn before battle depicted on "Argus."

The idea is cute: a kind of proto 3D print of a Gibson Flying V passing under the noses of the four musicians. It is the favored guitar of Andy Powell, the bespectacled and tied bald guy on the right. On the back of the record, in a similar framing, a Fender Stratocaster—also the preferred tool of the other guitarist Laurie Wisefield, the short guy with effeminate features in the foreground—passes in front of them. This time the contribution of the glorious graphic studio Hypgnosis (Pink Floyd, Genesis, Bad Company…) is significant and lives up to their fame.

The name of Wishbone Ash is paralleled by the opening track "Living Proof," which immediately established itself as a classic, always present in their concert setlists. Wisefield found an excellent guitar riff and a nice vocal line, tight and catchy (entrusted to bassist Martin Turner); the two guitars, in the generous instrumental portion, engage in irresistible games in alternation or unison, the song is melodic yet powerful and enveloping… everything works.

The rest of the album doesn't reach this absolute initial peak, but it's not bad at all: there's the somewhat anonymous rock blues "Haunting Me," the psychotic "Insomnia" with the psychosis created by the unusually distorted and mucous-filled guitar of Powell, the almost AC/DC-paced boogie (with all due respect) of "Helpless," the simple rock'n'roll "Pay the Price," the airy, thoughtful, and fascinating arpeggio of "New Rising Star," among the best episodes. And again, the almost blues with acoustic intro "Master of Disguise" and to conclude the final "epic" episode, the most abundant, the one smelling of progressive, the one with guitars that make and unmake without hesitation, the one most suitable to constitute the acme of the concert live…

It's titled "Life Line" and features a precious, almost fusion-like start, with unusual and ingenious harmonies between the two rhythm guitars, upon which Powell's piercing solo work rests. After the first singing, the song hardens and rolls towards a break and a much quicker and complex second part, almost entirely instrumental, yet another contribution from Wishbone Ash to the noble cause of all-encompassing guitar rock… It feels like listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird," with guitar riffs raining from all directions!

The merits and also the shortcomings of the group are all present on "Just Testing": the guitars are more than ever interesting, varied, creative, cohesive (but there aren't many harmony games performed together this time…), the songs diversify well among themselves between more immediate and introspective, more impetuous, and more relaxed. On the contrary, Martin Turner continues not to convince me either as a bassist (prolix, with bad sounds, and little punch) or as a singer, shrill when straining and unremarkable when attempting interpretation in quieter, atmospheric pieces.

"Just Testing" is another four-star work by Wishbone Ash, among other things, personally very dear to me because I went to see them live (in Forlì) precisely on the launch tour of this album, where a good half of it was performed.