ALBUM REVIEW – RICHARD ASHCROFT – LOVIN YOU
- Rick E
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
WORDS RICK E
LOVIN YOU
RICHARD ASHCROFT
Lovin,’ You finds the former Verve frontman in contemplative mood, which is about as surprising as finding a Marshall stack at a metal festival.
Ashcroft's always been one of those artists who, well He's got that classic rock sensibility, that stadium-sized ambition, and let's be honest, the man's never met a guitar tone he didn't want to drench in reverb and crank up to eleven. There is more than a whiff of the grandiose about him, even when he's doing his sensitive singer-songwriter bit.
Lovin’, You kicks off with “Lover”, and straight away you're in Ashcroft's world – all sweeping strings & cosmic spirituality he has been peddling since The Verve days, and vocals that sound like he's trying to communicate with beings on a higher plane of existence. There is certainly an undeniable conviction here.
"Heavy News" is where Ashcroft remembers he used to front one of the biggest bands in Britain, and suddenly we get something with a bit of swagger. The rhythm section actually turns up, there's a guitar riff that you could conceivably nod your head to, and for three and a half minutes, you remember why this bloke sold out arenas. It's not exactly Sabbath, but it has got more backbone than the surrounding tracks, and I found myself rewinding it more than once, which is saying something.
You then have “Find Another Reason,” a deeply personal, heart-on-sleeve approach to songwriting –The song itself well-constructed, professionally executed,
Title Track “Lovin’ You" which has a genuine sense of melancholy to it that finally connects on an emotional level. The melody's strong, Ashcroft's vocal is less affected than usual, and there is a simplicity to the arrangement that works in its favour. This is the kind of song that makes you understand why people rate him as a songwriter – when he gets out of his own way and stops trying to be profound, he can craft something genuinely moving.
The back half of the record finds Ashcroft in more experimental territory, relatively speaking. "Live With Hope" has this a modern vibe to it that is warm and captivating.
"Crimson Fire" is another highlight, stripping everything back everything for the verses before building into something more expansive. It is a template he has used before, but it is effective, and his voice sounds genuinely weathered here, like he has lived every word of what he is singing. This is where his age and experience work in his favour – there is a gravitas to his delivery that a younger artist couldn't muster.
The album closes with the acoustic "Fly To The Sun," if you caught it at the right show, in the right mood, with a few drinks in you, it would certainly be a chilled, highlight of the evening to compliment the more upbeat elements of the album.
There are moments of genuine beauty scattered throughout, songs that connect on an emotional level and justify Ashcroft's reputation as one of Britain's better songwriters.
The production is excellent, the musicianship is professional, and Ashcroft's voice remains a powerful instrument. It is an album that is easy to admire in places and for Ashcroft devotees, this will be exactly what they want – another helping of his particular brand of spiritual soul-searching set to sweeping orchestration.
3.5/5
LOVIN’ YOU – Full Track List
1. Lover
2. Out Of These Blues
3. Heavy News
4. Oh L’Amour
5. I’m A Rebel
6. Find Another Reason
7. Lovin’ You
8. Live With Hope
9. Crimson Fire
10. Fly To The Sun
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