Album review: ASH WILSON – Broken Machine

ASH WILSON - Broken Machine

Wilson Brothers Music [Release date 21.04.17]

There’s nothing ‘broken’ about this debut from Lincolnshire based singer-songwriter/ blues guitarist Ash Wilson. One of a growing band of a new blues generation, with brother Phil not only contributing drums and percussion, but producing and mixing, Broken Machine delivers a twist to the genre in the breadth musical styles covered.

With bass duties filled by Roger Inness (Chaka Khan, Laurence Jones), and keys/Hammond by Bob Fridzema (King King) there’s a familiar feel from the outset from the chugging Hendrix infused Mississippi delta blues opener ‘Show Me How To Love You’, the brief Stones influenced ‘World Gone Crazy’, through the gritty Hammond laden Texas blues shuffle of ‘Peace And Love’, and ‘The Hitcher”s echoes of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (with The Hoax’s Jesse Davey on vocals).

But what at first glance appears to be a staple set is punctuated by the 80′s Love & Money style ‘pop’ of the title track, the stadium rock balladry of ‘Words Of A Woman’, and the heartfelt ‘Holding Hands’ that draws the album to a close on an emotional high.

The blues course through the veins of this album, and there’s not only some hugely impressive playing, but a ‘feel good’ factor that’s not easy to capture. If the blues ticks any of your boxes, then Broken Machine is well worth exploring. ***1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

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