Morning Edges Album Reviews

Reviewed by: Pete Best

Details: Sunday Herald Sun - October 28th 2007

"Ashton understands that if you keep the architecture of a song sturdy but simple, people will pay more attention and the words will emerge unscatched. He means you to hear and understand them, which is not to say his creations are unadorned.

He's been listening to Harvest - nothing wrong with that - and those unobtrusive banjo notes that lifted Old Man above the ruck turn up here accompanying the gentle Again and Wound. And the sound is just as good.

There is that flexible movement between folk, country and robust rock that was a hallmark of Neil Young in the early 70's. If In Front of the Angels was released as a white label, radio cretins would be playing it as the latest REM release.

Ashton's musicianship is not in doubt and Bruce Haymes is a help on keyboards and drums. Perhaps the songs are a little wordy, but this is as confident a debut as you'll hear all year."