Richard Ashcroft - United Nations Of Sound

RPA & The United Nations Of Sound? Yes please.

So yes the mighty Richard Ashcroft is back, after what feels like a very long time. This time he’s not alone, he brings with him a slightly new name, RPA and The United Nations of Sound, and with them an album of the same name. Those of you who have followed Mr Ashcroft from his Verve days through until will know just how he has moved forward, how he has moved people with his lyrics and with his voice. A voice that is so unmistakable and so distinct especially in today’s crowded pop market. The United Nations Of Sound really do seem to have a huge input on this album, perhaps most notably on track America, it’s a huge track in terms of it’s sound and production, quite different to what I am used to from a more spiritual singer songwriter in Ashcroft, this has much more of an urban cityscape feel to it, mixed with amazing guitars. Of course it is not to say that this album doesn’t carry with it Ashcroft’s spiritual witterings, it does of course provide that, it is something that lends itself well to his vocal and musical style.

There are some lyrics on this album that are just brilliant, when you think it might be one thing and it turns out to be another, it’s very clever, I’ll leave you to discover them, all but one anyway; “I saw Venus up in the sky, I turned down my head and Serena smiled”, a lyric taken from single Born Again. Is this both the funniest and cleverest tennis reference to make it into songwriting of this kind? I’d like to hope so! Moving on though there is much more of interest to me than tennis player references. This album has taken me on a really unexpected musical journey it works so well, it’s got soul, it’s got an urban feel it has hope it has fear, such a mixture of emotions and each track is so individual and still sounds so true to a Richard Ashcroft sound. He has progressed in such a way that it doesn’t feel like he’s even tried, it doesn’t feel forced, to me it sounds like a natural progression and I have to say I’m loving it.

There are still songs on this album that could very easily have been on past albums, especially opening track “Are You Ready” ( a track already used on ITV in anticipation for the World Cup Final last weekend) and Good Lovin’. However, for the most part this album is incredible for its ability to mix together some really old-fashioned soul and gospel sounds with something much more modern and interesting. Listening to How Deep Is Your Man brings to mind a real dirty old Blues feel but it’s production brings it smack bang up to date. Whilst listening to Royal Highness makes me want to kick my shoes off and have a bit of a hoedown at the start. It is almost impossible to pick out a favorite track on this album, but something about Beatitudes I really do like, it sounds quite raw and passionate. It’s actually the most religious tracks on the album, and I don’t often enjoy that side to Ashcroft’s music, but musically it makes me want to swing my pants, kind of. Life Can Be So Beautiful has such a Curtis Mayfield feel to it I can not help but want to turn this up and lay back and enjoy it with a glass of wine, it’s beautiful, just like life apparently!

16/07/2010 - Elena