Human Conditions

Editorial Review

The Verve. One of the most impressive British bands ever. Richard Ashcroft the main architect, ‘Urban Hymns?their supreme epitaph. They argued, they split. So what can you do after that? There was never any doubting that Ashcroft’s inherent creativity would have to ooze out somehow, and so ‘Alone With Everybody?two years ago was the result. A splendid mix of airy strings and melancholic keyboards, surprisingly upbeat at times, moody elsewhere, but all hallmarked with the distinctive, pleading Ashcroft croon. But if that had minimal attitude, this one has even less. But the unassuming magical quality pulls it through.

Just listen to the first few bars of ‘Check The Meaning?and you are sucked into the Ashcroft presence. The irresistible hooks, the essential strings. Any doubt that he is still a force evaporates in those initial seconds. Sweeping, majestic, haunting. And that’s before he’s even started singing. It’s a similar style running throughout, though ‘Bright Lights?does raise the tempo - “I’d have a breakdown, but I don’t have the time.?It also has a rather fine Indian beat wanting to come through, but despite his Verve heritage, this is not a rocking album. Just a man at peace playing some tunes.

Maturity is often bandied about as a mark of musicianship, and although he’s not quite ready for he pipe and slippers yet, this is a worldly wise collection. He can still write damn good songs too. ‘Man On A Mission?is so familiar, yet fresh as a daisy. Rest assured he still has his suicidal moments though, ‘God In The Numbers?is not for the faint of heart. ‘Lord I’ve Been Trying?starts off in the same way as ‘The Drugs Don’t Work? and although nothing can better that monumental track, this takes a worthy runner-up prize. Darker veins run through the album, but not to the point of impenetrable gloom.

Now that the two Simons from The Verve have recorded as The Shining, the other component parts of their former band show their mettle. Parts of that album are more like Ashcroft, than he is himself. A curious contrast. So The Verve may be dead and gone, the whole bigger than the ingredients, but this album is still special. The artist a tour de force. Perhaps ‘Human Conditions?doesn’t have the majesty of ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony? or the bigger melodies of his debut solo work, but this is the still sound of a real musician in full flow.

One burning question remains though. Is Richard Ashcroft really Neil Diamond in disguise? He’s sounding more and more Diamond-like on each outing. There are definite country overtones again on this album, and is it me, or does he really say ‘moon river?on the gospel inspired last track? Ah, so that’s why The Verve split up?the rest of the guys realised he wanted to sing about ‘Cracklin?Rosie?and ‘Sweet Caroline?all the time and wanted none of it. That presumably is waiting for the third solo album, when he dons the Stetson and heads off to Nashville.

Additional Info

• Recording: STEREO
• Format: Single Case

Tracklisting