Ash - Islands

Ash return with their 8th studio album "Islands" which came out in May 2018.  To be honest after their 5th album "Meltdown" came out, way back in 2004. I did lose track of Ash and never realised they were still going until recently. After that album, guitarist Charlotte Hatherley was asked to leave the band. Then they released "Twighlight of the Innocence" in 2007. Then there was an 8 year gap to there next album "Kablammo!" in 2015.  Although in that gap it they went through a period of re-releasing some of their greatest hits.

And that brings us nicely to today to "Islands". This really does seem like a return to form for Ash.  And an album which I think should return them to the forefronts of people's minds that adored them so much in the 90s and early 2000s. This album is full of pop/indie singalong anthems which is what they were famed for back in the day with songs like "Girl from Mars" and "Burn Baby Burn". Highlights for me on this record are "Confessions in the Pool", "Buzzkill"  and "Is it true?".  As they are all immensely catchy and would be nice songs to bounce around to at any of their gigs or appearences at festivals

Itn saying that it's not all indie anthems. There are some softer, more poignent moments on the album with the likes of "Don't need your love" and the final track "Incoming waves".  I'm not sure how well these songs would translate live for a band like Ash. Especially in festivals as you just want them to play their more uplifting anthems rather than the slower songs.  These songs do however work on the album and gives it a bit of variety and a change of pace where "Incoming waves" particulary is a superb end to the album.  "Did your love burn out?" is another track you think is going to be a slow one as it starts off that way but it has this thumping chorus before quietening for the versus again. This is a great track.

One song I found quite funny was "It's a trap". The reason for this is because some of the melody sounds like the "Snowman" song "Walking in the air" by Aled Jones. Obviously it has different lyrics and due to Tim's vocals the overall song sounds different but there is definitiely a resemblence where the song does the gradual build up. Also the guitar solo in it means you can't say they are totally ripping it off

Overall, this is a good effort from the Northern Irish 3 piece and one which will start to get them noticed a bit again. It's by no means the best thing they have ever done. But it is a highly listenable and an enjoyable album. I think it came out at the right time, being a May release as they have that summer sound.