I came to this album with high hopes, Ashcroft has one of the defining voices of recent times - tracks with The Verve and some of his solo material have stood the test of time, and still sound as important now as they did the first time I heard them. So, with much anticipation he has released his latest album - Keys to the World, and whilst it doesn’t disappoint too much - it also doesn’t blow me away completely. Recently I heard Aschroft being interviewed on the BBC, and he talked about still being able to write an ‘Eleanor Rigby’, and I have no doubt he has epic songs in him. The album opens with a full-on, motownesque track (Why not nothing) with great horn treatments and brave, butch vocals. The single (Break the night with colour) is here at track 3, and its virtually perfect, lazy, sanguid and passionately sung - with superb bluesy guitars and superb production. There are beautiful strings on Track 4 (Words just get in the way), and lovely uplifting vocals. The album bubbles along quite nicely, with a great finish - Ashcroft singing”everythings right in my life again” on the final track (World keeps Turning). This is a fine comeback album, majestic, brooding but never quite reaching the peaks of those earlier songs…somehow, you believe there is a LOT more to come. Welcome back Mr Ashcroft.

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