NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE

Firing on all cylinders

After the decent but uncharacteristically laid back "Front page news", Wishbone Ash re- united with original producer Derek Lawrence for "No smoke without fire". The results are immediately apparent on the opening "You see red" with the jamming twin guitars back where they belong, right up front. The pace of the song is not overtly quick, but it has a driving basis while telling a troubling tale of domestic violence.

The troubled themes continue throughout the album, with the exception of the closing song "The way of the world", which finally evokes optimism. Musically however, this is far from a dark album. There are softer songs, such as the brief "Leaf and stream" like "Ships in the sky", but as a whole, this is a far more traditional Ash album than those which preceded it.

Things don't always work as well as they might, with the 7 minute "Stand and deliver" being something of a curate's egg. It has some fine guitar work, but the main hook is weak and inadequate. We are quickly back on track though with "Anger in harmony", which features a striking change of tempo midway to play out with a spirited twin guitar jam. "Like a child" features some of the strongest harmonies and one of the finest melodies the band has delivered in a long time, a real overlooked gem.

The closing 9½minute "The way of the world" is very much a "Time was, part 2". The slower acoustic opening vocal section eventually gives way to a lengthy upbeat guitar jam.

It is undoubtedly significant that the return of Derek Lawrence's to the producer's chair coincided with what is Wishbone Ash's finest album since "Argus". In many ways this is in fact the belated follow up to that magnificent album. While "No smoke without fire" is not quite of the same standard, it is an unjustly forgotten album in the band's back pages.

No Smoke Without Fire is one of the better Wishbone Ash albums in my opinion. I actually like this about as much as I like the albums that are usually considered to be Wishbone Ash's best, namely the three first ones and There's The Rub. This album rocks, it has very strong melodies and superb guitar work. There are no epic compositions here like Phoenix or Persephone, but the album is more consistent as a whole. Overall, the sound somehow reminds me of Dire Straits! Only a lot better, and harder rocking. The Dire Straits similarity is especially apparent on the song Anger In Harmony, the intro sounds exactly like that band.

The progressive leanings are basically concentrated to the last two tracks which go together as one (here it is apparantly listed as one long track but on my album it is divided into parts 1 and 2). It is a great song, but hardly a prog epic.

A very good melodic hard rock album with some slight progressive touches.

This album is plain rock essence. Some fine compositions are featured, that's for sure. Now, to decide if this album is prog or not is quite easy an easy choice to make?

The best song from this offering as far as I am concerned is the great "Stand And Deliver" which features some gorgeous guitar play like during the great old days. This is a fantastic rock moment. Guitar lovers: be ready for a great trip. Almost as great as "Southern Man" from whom you might have heard. THE highlight from this work for sure.

Most of the songs from this album are quite decent and hold some great rocking moments ("Anger In Harmony"), not quite in line with your expectations with pure prog music but quite pleasant to be honest.

This last tune is rather harmonious and gentle. Is it necessary to add that the guitar break which covers the second half of the song is awesome? I guess not!

The last two songs are rather conventional even if the early moments of "Like A Child" has a definite early "Santana" feel. But most of this song sounds quite AOR: fortunately guitar is brilliant (as usual).

I will be rather conventional with my rating. Three stars. A good rock album by all means.