Nouveau Calls

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Allmusic	[1]

Nouveau Calls is the 14th album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It is an all-instrumental album and is the first in 14 years to feature the original line-up of the band.

In 1987, IRS Records founder and original Wishbone manager Miles Copeland III began a record label entitled "No Speak," which featured all instrumental music. To launch the label successfully, Copeland needed a big name band that would bring publicity to the project. Copeland approached Andy Powell and Steve Upton about having Wishbone Ash release an all instrumental album. However, he stated the album must mark the reunion of the original Wishbone Ash.

For the first time in 14 years, Andy Powell and Steve Upton joined forces with Martin Turner and Ted Turner. Reactions were mixed because there were no vocals on the new album. The tour of 1988 was a huge success, as the band played large venues for the first time since the late 1970s.

The title Nouveau Calls is a pun on "No Vocals".^[2]

Track listing

1. "Tangible Evidence" – 4:22 (M. Turner/A. Powell)
2. "Clousseau" – 3:41 (M. Turner/A. Powell)
3. "Flags of Convenience" – 4:32 (M. Turner)
4. "From Soho to Sunset" – 3:27 (A. Powell/M. Turner/S. Upton)
5. "Arabesque" – 4:31 (M. Turner/S. Upton)
6. "In the Skin" – 4:52 (M. Turner/A. Powell)
7. "Something's Happening in Room 602" – 3:34 (M. Turner)
8. "Johnny Left Home Without It" – 3:40 (A. Powell/M. Turner)
9. "The Spirit Flies Free" – 3:45 (A. Powell)
10. "A Rose is a Rose" – 3:40 (A. Powell)
11. "Real Guitars Have Wings" – 3:13 (A. Powell)

Personnel

• Martin Turner – bass, keyboards
• Andy Powell – electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin
• Ted Turner – electric and lap steel guitars
• Steve Upton – drums, percussion

References