Ash - 1977 (Remastered)

Ash released this originally back in 1996 and it is safe to say it was one of the classic indie records of the time, and one of my personal favourites. It threw them into the limelight and only a year later they were headlining Glastonbury, ok that was because Steve Winwood had pulled out and they had already headlined the Other Stage that weekend, but hey they still did it and thanks in no small part to the recognition this BritPop behemoth had afforded them. But they were only nineteen years old at the time, so still the youngest to ever headline (Billie Eilish is the youngest solo headliner at twenty years old).

I always find it slightly odd when asked to review these kind of reissues as it likely to be people who know them from before who are likely to seek this out, with its enhanced sound as all the tracks have been remastered. But if you heard the 1996 release you know the songs, and what songs they are, still making up the staple of the live sets know from ‘Girl from Mars’ 'Goldginger’'Angel Interceptor' and ‘Kung Fu’ It must have been one of the albums that got the most plays on my CD player (remember them) as a teenager. 

It wasn’t just the heavily radio played singles that made the album, I don’t think it had a poor track on it. It also spawned the week of shows at the, now much missed, Astoria in London which they rechristened the Ashtoria for the week. Me and school mates, yes I’m that old, went along and got blown away with the sheer ferocity of the performance and the most pit was quite lively too. From the opening notes of the first track ‘Lose Control’ that seemed to be an instruction to the one thousand or so people standing at the front. 

Ok, so far this review has basically been me reminiscing, so let’s say something about the music for those who may not have heard it first time round. It’s pretty much BritPop / BritRock summed up, from the raucous, aforementioned, start to the more tender ‘Gone the Dream’ and ‘Lost in You’ to ending it yet more cacophony of wailing guitars with ‘Darkside Lightside’. If you like your Indie Rock, you are going to like this. Listening back, it does not sound as dated as several other acts of the time now do, probably due to the resurgence in that style that has been seen recently. 

The overall sound from the re-mastering is noticeable with it all sounding a bit crisper but being honest I am not sure that is such a good thing. This was made by teenagers for teenagers originally so was sort of designed to be a bit rough around the edges, but this roughness is what makes the record so great. Now most of the original fans are a bit rough around the edges, hopefully this will help find some new fans and, just as I have done, given some old gits the chance to relive their misspent youth for fourty minutes or so. Next up is their reissue of their third album 'Free all Angels', which will be out on September 16th, 2022. And you can see by how beautiful the '1977' splattered vinyl is, that both of these are a must for a fan to purchase to play, collect, or even put up framed on your wall.

 

Check Out! the video to 'Girl from Mars' Below...