Customer Reviews

Illuminations

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This Wishbone Ash album only contains one original member in it's lineup,Andy Powell.After listening to illuminations several times and for several days in a row,it became apparent as to how important Andy Powell is to that classic wishbone sound. And you will hear plenty of it. There is lots of the bands unique trademark harmony guitar work along with superb performances by the bass and drums.Strong musical influences in the likes of Kansas and Yes can also be heard.Illuminations is a 1996 recording that features many songs reminiscent of the early Ash.Yet it is recorded using modern studio/sound techniques.Giving the listener a well balanced full sound.Great progressive Rock with 12 tracks totaling more than 65 minutes.A nice variety of music.Some to stomp your feet to,some to sing along to,some to feel blue to and a few to dance along to.Which is what music should do.My advice to the die hard skeptic is be courageous like the warrior on the Argus cover and " Give this one a try ".Fast fact: Wishbone Ash's first big break resulted from a gig they did with Deep Purple.

Going for that Argus feel which is nice. I'd been a fan since coming across Argus by chance in 1994 so I was interested in hearing some contempoary Ash when I bought this in 96 or 97. Fans of AOR would like Mountainside. Tales of the wise is a 10 minute epic (with some nice soloing from Andy), Another time is in the classic WA style of yore, the Ring is nice and Crack of dawn is a dreamy acoustic instrumental ( a bit like Throw down the sword). Very nice indeed. Another album which the line-up recorded is Live in Geneva, also recomended.

A great melodic rock album with excellant guitar playing through out, had it came out in the seventies at some point it would probaly have sold and been appreciated a hell of a lot more than it has been. standout tracks include 'on your own', 'top of the world' and the ten minite 'tales of the wise' that reminded me of classic richie blackmore in his hey day with rainbow. with over an hours worth of music there's definitly plenty to choose from and has had me pleasantly listening for the past five years.

I truly love Wishbone Ash - I have 17 or 18 Ash albums, none of which are anthologies/greatest hits types. I play every one of them regularly, except for ILLUMINATIONS. This is not a bad album by any means - I would score it 3 and one half stars if there was a different artist's name on it, for instance - but this just AIN'T Wishbone Ash. I don't say it because the only Mark I or Mark II member in the outfit is Andy Powell; rather I state this isn't really Wishbone Ash because it doesn't have the unmistaken Ash sound (which is evident even on HERE TO HEAR and NOVEAU {sp?} CALLS).

Andy Powell is a stunning guitarist, and the rest of this ensemble are all fine, talented musicians - although none are in a class with Martin Turner, Laurie Wisefield, Steve Upton or Ted Turner. Illuminations just doesn't have the magic or inspiration that characterized - like a bolt of lightning! - the LPs made by the Mark I and Mark II Ash lineups. You might like this record, but if you're searching for that fantastic Wishbone Ash sound, you won't find it in ILLUMINATIONS, I'm sad to say, because like any Ash-ophile, I would love to hear some TRULY new, AUTHENTIC Wishbone Ash.

Bad to the bone and then some! This definetly is one of the Best Bone releases in quite some time! After the very 'dreary' return of the original lineup that produced nova wava techno pap, (Noueveau Calls)- which was bassist Martin Turner's idea - this ONE kicks axe like the days when LAURIE WISEFIELD manned the SG!!! (GUITARIST Roger Filgate who shares the 6 string duties with original member Andy Powell on this record was a big fan of the Laurie/Andy lineup) Tony Kishman who has appeared in several versions of the 'Beatlemania' production handles most of the lead vocals, (except for 'No Joke') has a dynamic range and delivery throughout. Yes, tinges of 'Argus' - "On Your Own", but this stands up as a very highly original work and WITHOUT the GLOSSY SHEEN that heavily MARRED the previous 3 releases, the original four boners put out before this one. A big shame the 'Illuminations'lineup w/the top notch ROGER FILGATE didnt follow up with another studio release. (Though 'Live in Geneva' proved 'worthy' as a very acceptable substitute) Nevertheless, Mr. Powell is too stubborn to quite at this point in time-what other job skills does he have??!! BTW, the latest lineup (w/Muddy Manning on guitar, Bob Skeat on bass, and Ray Weston on drums) is worth checking out!

When Ash basically broke up in 1991, orignal member Andy Powell continued the Wishbone Ash name. Here in 1996, Andy (guitar, vocals) teams up with Roger Filgate (guitar, bass), Tony Kishman (vocals), and Mike Sturgis (drums). Released in 1996, this is a late 70's style album, with a Yes-like quality (Filgate - cool bass lines, example Track 9). Kishman is a strong singer (Foreigner/Ambrosia style). Powell adds his great classic Ash guitar stylings. It's a cool album, but not really Wishbone Ash, except track number 12. Wish they'd called it PFK (Powell, Filgate, Kishman). Technically superb, many musical styles incorporated, but songwriting just doesn't rate it 4 stars.

I've been listening to Wishbone Ash since its very beggining, and it is incredible how this new formation (only Andy Powell remains from the original group) have achieved a great ensamble. Maybe the cause is that the new members of the band are fans of the old Ash and got the same style of playing guitar, bass and drums. The incredible twin guitars leads are present with a strong enphasis in harmony. I'm sure you're going to enjoy this production.

Antonio Cavicchioni

One of their best records! And that's saying something from such a great band--you won't be dissapointed in this one!

This is probably the best of the Wishbone Ash albums made without Martin Turner. Word has it that Andy Powell set out to make a follow-up to the famed 1972 Argus album. He didn't succeed, but it's a decent effort and does have more Wishbone Ash feel than the other albums Powell has made under the Ash name.

About 14 month ago, Wishbone Ash played in Holland (Alkmaar) It was a great concert! We have met Andy Powell and the other members of the band afterward in the dressingroom. It was very good to see Andy after many, many years. We bought 'Illuminations' right after the concert.

We visited the concert with four members of a band I've bee playing in the years 1975 till 1980. We played most Wishbone Ash songs in these days.

So, it was GREAT to see and hear good music in 1997!!

Robert de Graaf