Richard Ashcroft - This Is How It Feels

1. Who is this gangly streak of piss?

Richard Ashcroft was the front man for princes of Britpop The Verve. Striking out on his own he has six long players in the bank. This Is How It Feels (Feb'16) is the debut single from the sixth album These People (May'16).

2. What kind of tune is Richard Ashcroft slinging these days?

A belter. This Is How It Feels is a languid slow burner that wallows in the epic space creating by the strings and wall of sound guitars while effortlessly juxtaposing with the profound intimacy created by the acoustic guitar and baritone vocals. The song builds to a supremely satisfying slow crescendo.

3. Who does Richard Ashcroft sound like?

The bleeding obvious, The Verve. This Is How It Feels is a big one and fits Bittersweet Symphony size boots nicely.

4. What have the cut and paste merchants got to say?

“Taking the grandiose spirit of The Verve and channelling it into very old school, traditional songwriting” – DIY.

“Stripped back and mellow but it never loses its rawness” – 6 Towns.

“A brilliant return, packed full of acoustic melody and Ashcroft’s outstanding vocals” – Tenement TV.

 

5. Which bands have put the epic in Mr Ashcroft's greatness?

 Richard Ashcrofts influences are The Stooges, Funkadelic, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Next up are Joy Division, The Byrds, Miles Davis and The Smiths.

 

6. Why should I give This Is How It Feels a lashing?

Don't. You'll be hearing it everywhere soon enough. This Is How It Feels has the grandeur of Bittersweet Symphony but so if you like that...

 

7. Does Dicky have any more bangers?

No. Bollocks the lot of it.

 

8. Any more good words?

Richard Ashcroft says the new album these people is about, “some personal and world events taking a dark turn, leading to a sense of urgency and a clearing of the mind”.

Richard Ashcroft played junior football for Wigan Athletic.
 

“Oh, she went straight for my veins,

 Now I'm back home again”

 

 

 

Stirring the custard are New Orleans new wave duo Generationals. Started in 2008 the band have four long players propping up the record player. Black Lemons (2014) bubbled off their fourth album Alix and is a song NPR said, “mixes marimba-based jolliness and lyrics tinged with darkness.” Kooky goodness.
 

“I let my old life tie me to the tracks,
I heard my best friend tell me,
You can never go back”