This Is Wishbone Ash - The Rockumentary

[iansadler1]

Despite my self imposed 'exile' of a few months ago, I have still been keeping up with events and all things Wishbone Ash - you can't suddenly let 39 years+ of support go like that, I guess. I also managed to see the band at St Albans a couple of months back when I was at the front about two and a half feet away from Andy's fretboard (and I still can't work out how he plays what he plays !!).

Anyway I thought I'd start this new thread off and review the new DVD. Ordered it over the weekend and it arrived yesterday (fantastic service as ever - thanks Guy) and it's really great.

It's precisely the sort of documentary I enjoy, looking at how songs are constructed and how they take shape. It was really interesting to see the 'birth' of Reason To Believe from a couple of riffs composed by Muddy. Big Issue looks as though it's going to be good as well. All in all if this is the direction the new CD takes, it'll be a guitar fest which will suit me just fine !! Shows a band at their peak IMO.

Good packaging with the DVD and liner notes are interesting. Also there are 6 songs included for download which is a cool extra.

All in all, it's what I was hoping for and more, so once again many thanks to Andy and the chaps for allowing us to infiltrate their personal space. Go order this DVD, you won't be disappointed.

Cheers

Ian

[Rainer Frilund]

Got my copy today and have seen it once.

I usually say "I'm drooling" when waiting for
something good, but this document made me
not just drool but "ejac*late". Great DVD and
great stuff to be expected on the next CD.

Big Issues ahead!

---

[Nizzy]

Day-um!

[roger]

Enjoyed the DVD very much and very excited about the forthcoming new CD!

[Steven Koontz]

I went ahead and ordered a copy ...though it is PAL, I can play it on my computer !!!

looking forward to it..

steve

[Wally in Cincy]

[french fan]

Got my copy yesterday - fast delivery, as always. Just been watching it this afternoon. So here is my critical review !

I feel somewhat jealous, I would have liked to do something like that, but to be honest I never would have believed that a documentary about Wishbone Ash could have been made in France by a French director. Maybe an inferiority complex of mine... Anyway, the occasions of being proud to be French are so rare nowadays, that I won't avoid my pleasure.

Yet I feel there are some weaker moments during the film, these sequences shot on the outside (picnic, karting, swimming pool or pingpong stuff, you know) don't bring a lot and their technical quality is very low. I agree with the idea that some breathings were necessary, but this very choice is a bit poor.

On the other hand, I think the cutting is really good, specially on Right Or Wrong, Driving A Wedge and Growing Up, the three sequences that show at the same time a take in the rehearsal studio and a take in concert at Mézidon-Canon. This kind of cutting is very hard to achieve because you have to work with different sources of images and just one source of sound -hope my English is clear enough-. And everything has to match perfectly. There are 25 images per second on a video tape, if you see what I mean. Even with a very good editor and very professional musicians, you can never say things will turn out perfectly. Yet, they do.

Talking about the content, every member of the band has interesting things to say and has enough time to say them. A lot of music -the real star of the band ! - and a few words just to explain each one's philosophy and contribution, how the band works together. I like the way Christian Guyonnet has chosen to fade completely behind his subject.

Think I will watch this documentary one more time this week-end to have a more refined opinion. But these are the words that come to me right after my first view.

Ah ! I was forgetting : very good soundtaking, too !

[corza]

[Steven Koontz]

[Andrew W]

I was away all weekend, but on my return last night (Sunday), I was delighted to find that the postman had delivered my copy of the DVD, so I sat down to watch it on a large T.V. with theatre surround sound (loud!).

I love watching documentatries about musicians talking about their music / their bands / their philosophies, etc., and I was not disappointed here.

A few things struck me :

1. Andy Powell is just as passionate about what he does even after forty years. It was a real pleasure to hear him talk about the band and the music.

2. Wishbone Ash are just a fantastic BAND. Of course, I have known this for forty years, but this was really re-inforced in the DVD with the scenes in the rehearsal studio, complemented by the live footage.

3. Muddy, Joe and Bob are just as passionate about what they do as Andy is.

4. This is probably the best line up that the band has encompassed in their forty year history. That's not to take anything away from the achievements of other line ups, but there seems to be a real purpose in what is happening in all respects at the moment.

5. The sheer musicianship is ASTOUNDING.

I can't wait to watch this DVD again, I can't wait to see the band on the Spring tour, and I certainly can't wait for the new album. Based on what has been said and played so far, it's going to be a blinder!

Accept no substitutes - THIS IS THE REAL DEAL : WISHBONE ASH!!!