The former Verve front man Richard Ashcroft returns with this interesting slice of melodious pop, the first single from his new album.
Vocally he's not changed much since we first heard him sing on Verve's first album, but nowadays he plays guitar and bass too. It's clear that these talents back up his voice rather than complement it, however, as their parts on this single are curiously weak, while the vocals and backing vocals are characteristically strong.
The huge brass and strings parts are gorgeous too, especially in the inspired choice of counter-melody - but this single lacks something deep down in the bass subwoofer area, without which it doesn't quite get to the anthemic territory so lived-in by Ashcroft's old band.
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