Richard Ashcroft
These People

Not taking into account the artistically and commercially disastrous experience with the United Nations Of Sound, Richard Ashcroft (former frontman of one of the most important English bands of the last thirty years, the Verve) arrives at the fourth solo chapter with this "These People," ten years after the excellent "Keys To The World."

Produced once again by the trusted Chris Potter and released via Cooking Vinyl, the new work has been described by the British artist himself as "a mix of old and new." The melodically impeccable ballads return, enriched by the strings of the loyal Will Malone, a trademark of Mad Richard since the days of "Bittersweet Symphony": the title track above all, but also "They Don’t Own Me" or "Black Lines."

The best elements are concentrated in the first part of the album, starting with the misleading opener "Out Of My Body" (one of the tracks already presented live): a fast-paced rhythm, electro arrangement, and claphands introducing a very rhythmic refrain. You can feel the touch of Mirwais (former collaborator of Madonna), and the track seems like a supercharged version of "A Pain That I’m Used To" by Depeche Mode. The first single "This Is How It Feels" is excellent, encapsulating, as every good single should, the two souls of the album: the more traditionally Ashcroft-like one and the one trying to refresh the established sound of the English singer-songwriter.

Speaking of "They Don’t Own Me," in the vein of the old milestone "Lucky Man," we encounter another uptempo episode on the album, "Hold On," chosen as the second single and endowed with a melody perfectly calibrated on Ashcroft's splendid voice, here fully taking center stage.

Unfortunately, something stalls in the second part of the album, and the quality slightly declines, too often slipping into bland or already heard: "Everybody Needs Somebody To Hurt" is unclear in its direction, and Richard's performance is less than convincing, the same goes for "Ain’t The Future So Bright." However, "Pictures Of You," purely acoustic, is good, and the excellent closing "Songs Of Experience," which builds a pleasant climax before a fresh and captivating refrain.

Six years are a long time, and expecting a bit more was understandable, yet Richard Ashcroft's return is by no means to be dismissed. "These People" is a good album that at times is saved by craftsmanship but also has some interesting tricks up its sleeve.

Best track: Out Of My Body