PILGRIMAGE

Pilgrimage is the 2nd full-length studio album by UK hard rock act Wishbone Ash. The album originally contained 7 tracks but the 1991 CD re-release adds the bonus track Jail Bait ( live). There´s also a gatefold sleeve double vinyl version available where Pilgrimage is paired with Wishbone Ash 3rd full-length studio album Argus (1972), which is the version that I have.

The music on Pilgrimage is for the most part, blues based hard rock with extensive guitar soloing. There are some progressive/ folky and jazzy elements on the album but actually not many. It´s not the most consistent album in history ( the last track Where Were You Tomorrow is even recorded live, which gives it an out of context feel) but if you take any song out of the album context they are all good quality compositions wether it´s the more structured tracks or the jamming ones. The thing I enjoy the most about he album is the musicianship though. Already this early on in their career, Wishbone Ash had a special warm touch to their playing that´s admirable. Loads of blistering guitar solos, powerful drumming and great bass playing. The vocals were always the weak spot in Wishbone Ash music but they are not a distraction as such. They are just kind of there.

Pilgrimage is a notch better than the debut album to my ears, because the band now started to incorporate elements from other genres into their blues based hard rock foundation, but as noted above the album is not very consistent and a 3.5 star rating will have to do. If I´m in the right mood it´s a very enjoyable album though.