RPA and the United Nations of Sound, (Parlaphone) HHH HIP-HOP isn’t a genre you would associate with Richard Ashcroft, the former Verve frontman whose melancholy tones defined the Britpop era of the late 90s.
But that’s what is on offer with his new band the United Nations of Sound and, oddly enough, it works pretty well. Teaming up with a set of revered session musicians, including Mary J Blige’s guitarist Steve Wyreman, Motown legendary engineer Reggie Dozier and Benjamin Wright, who arranged the strings on Michael Jackson’s brilliant Off The Wall album, this is as far out of the Wigan singer’s comfort zone as you can get.
Ashcroft’s ego may still be massive, but you can’t deny he knows how to craft a tune. Opening track Are You Ready sums it up best, a sound which could grace any Rocky film and hooked on a hypnotic dance beat. The Verve might be gone, but Ashcroft is still making music that matters.
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