MARTIN TURNER'S WISHBONE ASH: ARGUS - THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

While rehearsing for their Argus Tour, Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash (MTWA) decided to rerecord the Argus album using the latest studio technology. Do we need a new Argus album? Perhaps not. We have the 30th anniversary remastered edition with bonus live tracks. We have the 35th anniversary Deluxe Edition with a second disc of live tracks. And how do you outdo a classic album? Nevertheless, the current version of Wishbone Ash led by Andy Powell (APWA) is also releasing a new live edition of Argus. Some fans might relish the idea of having two Wishbone Ash bands, so they get more Ash concerts and albums being released. However, it might seem to some that there is a bit of one-upmanship going on here. Andy Powell bill's his version as the "real" Wishbone Ash. And Martin Turner's webpage bill's him as the "creative force" behind Wishbone Ash, given his original role as primary songwriter, lead singer, distinctive bass player and sometime producer. Granted, the Wishbone Ash albums from the mid-1980s and then 1990s-on done without Martin Turner do not have the same sound and feel of Ash albums done with him, but each of the current Wishbone Ash bands has only one original Ash member. So, in that sense, it may be splitting hairs to say which is more legitimate. It will probably come down to listener preference, so I'll confess that I prefer Martin Turner's sound and style which stays closer to the 1970s Ash sound than does APWA. Turner has assembled an excellent band that plays in the classic Wishbone Ash style.

So, how is ARGUS Through The Looking Glass? The band has stayed close to the original structure of the songs without simply parroting them. Martin Turner band made one change in running order, putting Blowin' Free at the end of the album. Its original position as song three fit the LP format as an upbeat way to finish off side one. But in the liner notes Turner says he wrote the song in the mid 60s, and it never quite fit with the rest of the songs on Argus. It was included with the original Argus album to have an upbeat song. As the final song on the new album it serves as a sort of encore. ARGUS Through The Looking Glass features two guest performers on track six, John Wetton and Geoff Downes of Asia, King Crimson, Yes fame. Ironically, Wetton was the first replacement for Martin Turner when he left Wishbone Ash in the early 1980s, but not for long. He apparently did not fit with Andy Powell et al's plans for the band, so went on to co-found Asia (see the Ash biography Blowin' Free). Given that the music on ARGUS Through The Looking Glass is still classic and is well played by MTWA, I'd say it's a good listen. But it doesn't top the original, so only four stars. Next, we need to hear some new material from MTWA.

. . .so Mr Waters described "A momentary lapse of reason" when the other three members of Pink Floyd decided to carry on without him. That too is what we have here. I quite understand that original bassist Martin Turner wanted to include the "Argus" album in his version of the band's live set. I understand too, that this meant rehearsals in a studio, and that the temptation to record the album in the studio again would have been tempting. What I do not understand is why these recordings were released as an official album. Is this a tribute to the lead guitarists he will not now work with? Is it some misguided rites of passage? Is it an attempt to claim more than a due share of the credit for the masterpiece which stunned us all in 1972? Who knows! The only person who played on both the original and this version though is said bassist/vocalist Martin Turner.

There is no denying the magnificence of the music which is the foundation of this album. There is no denying either the competence of the musicians who play on it. There is therefore no denying that this is a very enjoyable recording. What it is though, is nothing more than a tribute album. In the same way as The Musical Box, The Australian Pink Floyd Show, and many more emulate their heroes note for note, so "Argus through the looking glass" emulates the 1972 original. While listening to this version, I find myself constantly comparing it to the original, and finding it to be slightly inferior every time. That inferiority is probably as much to do with a familiarity with the original ingrained over almost 40 years as it is with any actual shortcomings.

I do find here though that the vocals are generally less satisfactory, sounding rather dull and technical. Likewise for me, while the twin lead guitars, the essence of the album, are played impeccably they lack the emotion instilled by those who wrote and recorded the tracks. When we are reminded that one of the lead guitarists here is a former member of Showaddywaddy, he may well love the music he is participating in but he is simply mimicking someone else's music.

There are minor variances here, one track is about a minute longer, another a bit shorter. The track sequence is bizarrely altered too, so that "Throw down the sword" is no longer the finale. Talking of "Throw down the sword", the organ here is played by guest Geoff Downes, while John Wetton also pops by to add harmony vocals to the same track. I have to say though that the pre-vocal guitar part of this track sounds awful here, it is tantamount to sacrilege!

I find it hard to assess an album such as this. I thoroughly enjoy listening to it, as it is close enough to the original to be all but immune from criticism on that level. For me though, it is not quite as good, and is therefore something of a pointless exercise. Why bother with this album when remastered versions of the original are readily available? To that extent, this album is simultaneously essential and totally redundant.

I thought to myself "wow, through the looking glass should mean we will have a tribute to the original with adapted/alternated songs structures, this is SO interesting!".

Only that this is not the case... Here, MTWA are pretty much mimicking the original masterpiece, condemned to an inferior result.

Why did Martin Turner decided to release this album? Money is the only reason that comes in mind. They rehearsed these songs for their tour (they played Argus in it's entirety), so it was not difficult for them to record it, print it, and sell it with the merchandise at their gigs for extra income.

The songs are obviously fantastic, but I can't find a single reason to listen to this album, apart from the pure curiosity I had when I first got it. 3 stars for offering nothing significant to anyone but WA fanatics that wanna have/listen to everything there is.