WORDS BY DESH KAPUR
RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 16TH 2022
Ash has re-released “Free All Angels” their third studio album on vinyl It was originally released on 23 April 2001 through Infectious Records and Home Grown. Written by Tim Wheeler at his parents home in Northern Ireland “Free All Angels” was co-produced by the band and Owen Morris, and recording sessions were held at El Cortijo in Puerto Banús, Spain, then moved to The Wool Hall in Beckington and RAK Studios in London. The album peaked at number one in the UK and number two in Ireland and also reached the top 40 in Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Norway. “Free All Angels” was certified platinum in the UK. All of the album’s singles charted in the UK and Ireland, and “Shining Light” reached the UK top 10. Q and Under the Radar included the album on its lists of the best releases of 2001. “Shining Light” won an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting and “Burn Baby Burn” was named NME Single of the Year.
This album always seemed to me like Ash growing up, taking that first step from youth to adulthood, full of self-analysis whilst reminiscing about times gone by, at the same time still holding on to the youthful exuberance that oozed out of their first two albums.
The maturity of songs like “Walking Barefoot” with its little nod to the Ramones the brilliance of ‘Shining Light’ so anthemic, and the irresistible power pop/rock of ‘Burn Baby Burn. Then it’s “Candy” a simple love song, swirling strings sampled from the Walker Brothers‘ “Make It Easy on Yourself.” Followed by the classic punk-pop of “Cherry Bomb” which still has that “Girl from Mars” vibe. The moody ‘Pacific Palisades ‘followed by the racket that is “Shark” and right at the end the frantic finale of ‘World Domination”
Ash’s evolution on this record was brilliant but with all that said the bottom line is “Free All Angles”. Is a bloody great pop album,
Revisit it now you won’t be disappointed
8/10
TRACK LISTING
1/ WALKING BAREFOOT
2/ SHINING LIGHT
3/ BURN BABY BURN
4/ CANDY
5/ CHERRY BOMB
6/ SUBMISSION
7/ SOMEDAY
8/ PACIFIC PALISADES
9/ SHARK
10/ SOMETIMES
11/ NICOLE
12/ THERE’S A STAR
13/ WORLD DOMINATION
14/ SO THE STORY GOES
FOLLOW ASH
My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
