So last in, first out – albeit temporarily. She may be the Harrisonesque quiet one in the band, but there has always been the sneaking suspicion that Hatherley is a key factor in the Ash sound. So a solo album was certainly something to look forward to.
The news is good; it’s a fine record, if not an utterly surprising one. It sounds enough like Ash to keep their fan base on board but not so like them as to make the whole exercise pointless.
The opening salvo is an exhilarating one, a rush of punky guitars, melodious harmonies and catchy tunes, reaching a peak with the fabulous ‘Summer’ – which is everything that a song called ‘Summer’ should be. Not everything is so impressive. ‘Down’ is a so-so ballad, while ‘Stop’, the record’s most rocky moment, is little more than a mess of riffs. More successful is the keyboard swathed ‘Where I’m Calling From’. All’s well that ends well, though, with the spiky ‘Bastardo’ and classy title track bringing matters to an impressive close. A second chapter would be very much appreciated!