Album Review: Richard Ashcroft – Lovin’ You

Richard Ashcroft needs little introduction – the voice behind The Verve’s anthems and a long solo career, he’s always walked the line between widescreen romanticism and intimate confession. On Lovin’ You, his latest solo project after a four year hiatus since the release of Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 in 2021, he leans into this duality. The album mixes acoustic balladry, soulful grooves and unexpected electronic flourishes while keeping the vocal at the centre.

The record opens with Lover, a reimagining of Joan Armatrading’s Love And Affection. Here, Richard doesn’t merely cover the song, he weaves in his own original aesthetic. The strings, acoustic guitar, and his vocal phrasing carry both reverence and reinvention. It’s a bold opening and one that sets the tone for the rest of the album – respectful of tradition, yet unafraid to challenge expectations. Following that, Out Of These Blues grounds things more in classic Richard territory. It’s hushed, bluesy and confessional – where the weight in his voice reveals years lived, regrets and hope entwined.

Heavy News thickens the arrangement with denser instrumentation – hazy keyboards and layered percussion that create a sense of atmosphere and unease. One senses Richard trying to navigate the noise of the modern world through his music. Definitely one of the more compelling tracks for me on the album. The script is flipped with Oh L’amour, a track somewhat reminiscent of Dope Lemon’s hazy laidback nature. It’s full of delicate melodic turns and backing harmonies that lift the mood without losing the song’s emotional thread. Following unexpectedly, Richard flips the script again with I’m A Rebel. Here, he dives into disco and synth-inflected territory, leaning into rhythmic pulse and adopting a higher register. It’s a bit out of kilter with the rest of the album, but it does somehow work in that it offers levity and surprise in the heart of an otherwise weighty album. Find Another Reason settles us down again with acoustic warmth, fingertip percussion and lyrics that read like the aftermath of romance – resigned but humane.

In its closing stretch, the title track, Lovin’ You, pulls back toward more familiar terrain but with fresh emotional texture. It works as the album’s emotional anchor, a warm, widescreen love song. It balances swagger and warmth, almost strutting, with repeated refrains that anchor its feel and stick long after the song ends. It’s certainly a strong centrepiece and my favourite track on the album. Live With Hope follows as a gentle confessional but is not all that impressive as the back-side track to Lovin’ You.

Finishing neatly, Richard brings us Crimson Fire which talks to the feeling of being filled to the brim with love for someone. He does this over a whimsical and joyous backdrop of instrumentation. This leads nicely into Fly To The Sun which offers a beautiful, more minimal farewell with pared back tenderness. Lines like ‘love can be cruel’ land with a quiet force. It feels like a hushed sunset of acoustic guitar sounds and intimate vocals that leave you in a comfortable, reflective place. Not every experiment lands perfectly, but I enjoyed the diversity of Lovin’ You. Richard still knows how to take familiar songs into slightly strange new rooms and make you feel at home there.

Zoe V.