Ash deny they're splitting

Ash have denied there are splitting up, but have confirmed that forthcoming record ’Twilight Of The Innocents’ will be their last album.

Speculation about the band’s future started on Saturday (June 9) at the Isle Of Wight Festival, when they frontman Tim Wheeler introduced their new title track by telling the audience it was from their “last album”.

However the band have ended speculation over their future, explaining that they will continue but will not release albums in the conventional way any more.

“The way people listen to music has changed, with the advent of the download the emphasis has reverted to single tracks. It hasn't helped that most people have forgotten how to make a decent album. I'm constantly disappointed with records I buy,” declared Wheeler. “I believe our new album is the pinnacle of everything we've done thus far, and I'm proud that this will be remembered as our last album. The future lies elsewhere and we can have a lot of fun by changing things up. It's like the Wild West at the moment and a time to take chances and try out new ideas.”

The band explained that they will use digital means to distribute their songs, which they hope to do more often then the current system allows.

“When you're tied to the album format, you find yourself waiting six months between finishing a record and releasing it,” said the singer. “By leaving this behind we can enter a new phase of spontaneity and creativity. We have our own studio in New York, we can record a track and release it the next day if we feel like it, give it to people while it's fresh. We're the first band to do this, but I very much doubt we'll be the last.”

He added: “We've been one of the best singles bands of the last two decades and we're still younger than a lot of bands on the current scene. I’m excited to push this claim further by dedicating ourselves wholly to the art of the single for the digital age.”

Ash’s “final” album ‘Twilight Of The Innocents’ will be released on July 2.

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