Ash return with their re-energised fifth and possibly last studio LP Twilight of the Innocents, mixing classic pop lyrics and punk influenced melody.
The departure of guitarist, Charlotte Hatherley, and re-location of the remaining band members has proved influential for all concerned, Twilight of the Innocents was self-produced and recorded in New York with only the assistance of a sound engineer. As Rick Murray, Ash’s drummer, notes: “This change gave us a huge sense of achievement. It allowed us to operate at our own pace, fundamentally with this LP, everything falls on our shoulders and this encouraged us to get down to working on it.”
Following the disappointment surrounding their previous album Meltdown, Ash took time to recoup before heading back to the studio. Rick notes: “We had six months off, possibly the longest time since the first album. This allowed us to get our hunger back as musicians before getting back down to writing, recording and promoting with a clean slate.” Their recent time spent recording has also led the boys to announce their decision to release only singles in the future, feeling a need for spontaneity and creativity in their music production.
With the recording completed in February, Ash has spent the past six months touring constantly. Their recent four performances at London’s KOKO also allowed the band to reminisce, the last time they played as a threesome was during a five-night stint at the Astoria. Ash’s return proves they are still capable of producing infectious sounds, which will no doubt be loved by fans both old and new. Twilight of the Innocents available now through Infectious Records.
Gemma Ormerod