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Gallery Photographs of the band, vidcaps and pictures from the press


Ash Discography A highly detailed catalogue of the band's releases to date


Latest Single Details of the latest single release from the band, Shining Light


Latest Album Information and tracklisting for Ash's last long-player, Nu Clear Sounds


Official Fanzine Info on how to get a hold of the official ash fanzine, Hash


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Ash Latest

NME 12 February 2000

NME Premier Show

There's a sense of childhood lost about headliners ASH these days. Now that the frazzled powerpop quartet resemble the Scooby Doo gang reborn as smacked-up kinderwhores, the joyfully unforced teenage buzz of 'Girl From Mars' or 'Kung Fu' sound newly layered in scuzzy self-knowledge and the narrowing horizons of adulthood. Like, was there always such a hefty dose of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' in the rumbling depths of 'Oh Yeah'
and 'Goldfinger'? We're not complaining, they still rock like bastards, but is this perhaps Ash's pop past succumbing to more heavyweight maturity? Then again, maybe it's just because this is only their first proper show in six months, which means some of these tunes creak when they should soar.

But once we get beyond the garage-punk Stoogerama of 'Jesus Says' and a brace of other semi- gems from their under-par 'Nu Clear Sounds' album, Ash hint at innocence regained with some previews of their forthcoming work-in-progress. Because both 'Walking Barefoot' and 'Shining Light' are richly melodic, clean and self-contained popcore beauties in the best Wheeler style.

Ash songs are mainly verse- chorus-verse-chorus archetypes. But they still embody the very best of four-square indie rock, the summit achievable without deconstructing the format or bringing art into the equation. Like all three bands on this bill, this is guitar music as it should be played - by young, sexy, irreverent f**kers who know the difference between a magnificent tune and a horrendous racket, and recognise the value of combining both.
Stephen Dalton