Richard Ashcroft embodies British cool. Ashcroft, like Syd Barrett or Nick Drake before him, Pete Doherty and Alex Turner after him, is one of those rare rock eccentrics; the kind of imaginative spirit that has made England one of its greatest musical exports. Ashcroft was the hallmark voice of 90s English pop music as the frontman of The Verve. The band's global megahit "Bittersweet Symphony," which Chris Martin famously described as "the best song ever written, sung by the best singer in the world," catapulted them to stardom in the United States and heroism in the United Kingdom. He's appeared on Saturday Night Live, graced the cover of Rolling Stone and been nominated for VMAs, GRAMMYs and The Mercury Prize, but he's never collaborated on a soul record with a hot shot hip-hop artist until recently.
Ashcroft left The Verve to write music inspired by his love of soul, funk and gospel. United Nations Of Sound is the outcome of his first solo album in four years.
In a New York studio last autumn, Ashcroft met with producer No I.D. (the man behind Jay-Z's Grammy-winning blockbuster "D.O.A." as well as successes by Common and Kanye West). The chemistry was immediate. The squad was established once they had sound engineer Reggie Dozier on board. United Nations of Sound is defined by its tremendous emotional intensity and addictive, preternaturally alluring R&B-tinged music. It's an album that can feel cheerful and festive, nostalgic and emotional or loud and dangerous, depending on whatever tune you're listening to and your mood. The album represents a progression for Richard Ashcroft; he's harnessing inspirations he's never before explored and engaging with musicians far outside his domain. For the rest of us, United Nations of Sound is exactly what we've come to anticipate from this ever-enigmatic, fascinating, famous artist: something fresh..

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