A-Z Vol. 1Atomic Heart Records ***

Tired of the traditional album format and release schedules, and acknowledging that music consumption habits have altered irreversibly, Ash commenced their novel new-single-every-fortnight campaign last October. The first 13 letters of the alphabet are well represented here, and for a band that always treated maturity with disdain it’s good to see that, 18 years into their career, Ash still ooze that youthful exuberance. The trio’s gift for crafting deceptively enduring indie-pop tunes is as strong as ever, and each song bursts forth with the grab-’em-by-the-throat energy that has been at the heart of their success. For those who have failed to fall for the band’s graces in the past, don’t expect any revelations, but one has to admire their innovative DIY development and this defiant two-fingered salute to the industry that helped raise them. See ash-official.com

Download Tracks: Arcadia, The Dead Disciples, Neon