Loaded Album of the week
By Fred Spanner
RICHARD ASHCROFT: Lovin’ You ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Richard Ashcroft’s seventh studio album has landed. This time he’s doing his best impression of a rock ’n’ roll prophet, only now the sermons come with a side order of romance and a fair bit of nostalgia.
Lovin’ You is less “urban hymns for a generation” and more “candlelit dinner for two.” Don’t get us wrong: Ashcroft can still belt a tune like the ghost of Britpop Christmas past, but this record’s a mixed bag, part tender love note, part Ibiza chill-out compilation that accidentally wandered into the studio.
Lead single Lover is pure Ashcroft. It’s strutting and soulful and cheekily borrows Joan Armatrading’s Love and Affection.
Then there’s I’m A Rebel, with Mirwais (yes, Madonna’s old mate), which sounds like Ashcroft took a detour into a Paris nightclub and decided he liked the strobes. Fair play: it’s bold, it’s shiny, and it works.
And when he dials it down, Find Another Reason, Live With Hope, you get that gorgeous voice front and centre, reminding you why we all forgave him the mad conspiracy rants and the oversized scarves.
Elsewhere, some of the production feels over-polished, like Rich ironed all the grit out of his jeans before putting them on. When Ashcroft gets too glossy, he risks losing the rawness that made him the coolest frontman in Wigan.
Not his masterpiece. Those days are probably behind him. But still a proper, heartfelt effort from a bloke who’ll never stop believing music can change your life.