Former Verve man fails to hit the note (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Former Verve man fails to hit the note

6:28pm Friday 13th August 2010 in

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RPA AND THE UNITED NATIONS OF SOUND: United Nations of Sound (Parlophone): Former Verve front man Richard Ashcroft’s debut effort with the UNS is a mediocre album which does nothing for the reputation of this talented songwriter.

Its very much RA and for his fans that might be enough but it is pretty middle of the road fodder dressed up as something else.

To do that the album was produced by hip hop pioneer No ID who works with Jay-Z and string arrangements are by Benjamin Wright who was responsible for strings on Michael Jackson’s ‘Off the Wall’, while he has recuruited Mary J Blige’s guitarist Steve Wyreman in the line-up.

‘Beatitudes’ is the pick of the bunch of 12 tracks while the opener ‘Are You Ready’ leads us a merry dance because after that it never really gets beyond the ordinary.