Ash

A-Z VOL 2 Atomic Heart ****

While deciding never to release albums again (in the face of a rapidly changing music industry) may have been an irrational move (and one they swiftly altered), there's little doubt that being in charge of their own destiny has energised Ash to the point where they are a far different band to the one they were when they signed to a major label. The instinct to conjure superb melodic pop/ punk songs out of thin air remains (Dare to Dream, Spheres, Summer Snow), but there's a hefty, hard-edged experimental element lodging its way into their creative make-up, which ensures that A-Z Vol 2 (their second batch of 13 singles to be released this year) brims with equal parts cheeky bravado and firm- handed assertiveness. And if there's a better granite-hard rock/pop song than Sky Burialreleased this year it'll be a miracle. See ash-official.com

Download tracks: Mind Control, Summer Snow, Sky Burial