Ash Wing - Ash Wing- Progressive Voyages Review PV108

Ash Wing – Self Titled – Progressive Voyages Review PV108

I was alerted to this album again by my friend and fellow reviewer David Edwards, who I know if he likes an album that invariably it will appeal to me, As we share a similar musical Palette, So thank you David for an excellent introduction into what is a very fine album indeed.

Ash Wing hail from South Wales and are a 4-piece band consisting of Sian Elson – Vocals, Martin Rosser Guitar and vocals, Allen McCarthy- Bass and vocals and Allen Mason Jones – Drums and percussion in addition they are aided by Peter Jones of Tiger Moth Tales who provides Saxophone and flute and also by Rob Reed (Magenta) and Kevin Dawson who provide the keyboard support for the album.

The albums ids a celebration of both buildings that have provided safe haven for those in need and also speaks of nature, Particularly Crows that are always watching and looking at what is happening around them, the idea of permanence and stability is important part of the story too.

Sadly the albums comes without lyrics so I can’t examine them to pertain themes and meanings, so I will have to listen very carefully to grasp these things for myself.

The band arose from an earlier incarnation that was called the C Sides Project who were active from 2010 to 2024, However they felt that particular journey had been as completed as much as was possible and so the evolved into thus new version or incarnation adding vocalist Sian Ellison to the mix to create a new and different sound to that of C Sides.

The album is very unique and organic sounding, it begins with the fine track Millennia which speaks of historical and culturally significant buildings, usually stone but buildings that hold history within their stones and walls, there is a great opening keyboard sound ( a clavinet etc. perhaps) and s9me bluesy guitar fills, Signs voice bears comparison with a certain Ms Bush but utilises that style to strong effect. The track is an excellent introduction to Ash Wing the band.

Next track is a longer one, From My Window, This is amid paced track with great bass, keyboards and a vibrant guitar line the winds its way across the soundscape, Again you hear Ms Bush in the vocals, but the overall effect is fine, at the 3.00 mark there is a burst of excellent guitar a d some flanged guitar effects however the groove established is great, I really like this track, its energy and sound is very pleasing to the ear as is the guitar work throughout.Also striking here is the excellent bass work from Allen McCarthy which sound wonderful and sturdy.

It’s All Change is next, this opens a drum roll that leads straight into a very interesting Saxophone solo from Peter Jones adds drums to achieving guitar rhythm from the rest of the band, there are great supporting keyboards here as the intensity build before a fine solo from Martin Rosser after which Sian begins singing, Her voice is different here, More Powerful and very blues drenched, Which fits the tempo and tone of the song extremely well and most satisfyingly it must be said,

Again the excellent bass really makes a very positive impression.Simply a fantastic track, Really impressive.

As is the guitar line the leads into the next track, Shadow Of The Crows, with its delicate acoustic guitar and Sian’s excellent vocal work here creating an almost Led Zeppelin type track, great chorus of Nothing Really Matters, and a break into an almost Bonzo dog Do Dah band type section, This is another very atmospheric and engrossing track with a fine guitar solo at the 4.55 mark that simply tears out of the stable as it were. Very tortured in tone but very effective and hugely satisfying too. Another fine song.

This is swiftly followed by more atmospheric sounds and textures like keyboards, guitar notes and others to start the albums longest track, In Our Darkness which is very dark and oppressing to begin with,A further strong bass performance and flute from Peter Jones, there is a gentle mid-section to this song, this track has great dynamics that add significantly to its sound and impact. The acoustic guitar here is very effectively employed, the guitar solo that leads towards the end is very good too, As is the saxophone solo from Peter Jones. Again another excellent track which mixes moods and sounds very cleverly indeed.

Why You Run Your Circles is a shorter interlude between In Our Darkness and Only You Know but it is an effective interlude as Only You know is a more upbeat song, with a driving pace and rhythm that are highly effective indeed, the vocals here are strong and the use of a Tubular Bells ringing is very atmospheric. With the returning saxophone works well too, as does the great subdued guitar line, another strong track. The bells at the are a good addition to the atmosphere of the track.

This is followed by some more very bluesy guitar fills as Thin Disguise is ushered in, the sound is great here especially with the guitar and its effects and fills. This song builds 8n its intensity in a very satisfying way, the track closes out with a further blast of Peter Jones Saxophone.

Final song The Fox and The Crow beg8ns with Piano, Guitar Bass and drums all create a strong groove and a steady pace, the chorus of We’ll sing along works well for the song as do the La, la,lah ad libs that all combine to create an almost olde world sounding track, I especially like how all this sounds, it’s very imaginative and expressive and the strong upfront bass work sounds truly fantastic as does the accapella vocals that end the track and indeed the whole album.

This really is another excellent album from a band who show lots of promise here in this their debut album, I feel that there is much to appreciate here and I heartily recommend it to you all.

Info here: Ash Wing | Ash Wing https://share.google/vuP8775uWXFm36jWx

Author John Wenlock-Smith.

Sunday 18th January 2026.