Richard Ashcroft presents his second video with his latest project RPA & United Nations Of Sound for his single Born Again.

(Disclaimer: this vid is not remotely attempting to be in synch… we had to check our stereo a few times to ensure we weren’t playing another track simultaneously!)

RPA’s self titled album has a bit of a different flavour to the pensive Richard Ashcroft we’ve come to know and love… it was produced by Chicago hip-hop producer No I.D. and includes a helluva lot of hand-clapping, rousing choruses, and heady beats. Read our in-depth review here. The album is out July 16 but you can pre-order it now from JB Hi- Fi and Sanity. Tickets to see what will be an outstanding show (from all the UK reviews) are available at Frontier Touring. This is the first time we in Australia will witness one of the world’s best performers and voices belt out songs from RPA & United Nations of Sound as well as special treats from The Verve like Bitter Sweet Symphony and Sonnet!

I’m penciling in this gig as a potential #1 show for 2010!

I wanted to start this review off by announcing that Richard Ashcroft was back.. but then I realised he never really left.

Since The Verve officially called it quits in 1999 he’s become a successful solo artist in his own right, releasing three U.K top 3 solo albums, some to mixed reviews.

When The Verve got back together in ‘07 to record their first new material in 11 years, all the Brit popsters (including me) were just a tad excited.

The final product titled simply (and appropriately) Forth. Led by the kick ass first single Love is Noise, the album tore through psychedelic walls of noise and guitars, always steered by Ashcrofts brit-pop vocal cool. The Verve’s relentless quest for epic-ness was a breath of fresh air at a time when most British guitar bands were trying to sound dry and down-to-earth.

So now here we are in 2010 and I want to tell you that Richard Ashcroft is as relevant as ever. His new disc with his new band – RPA & The United Nations of Sound – proves exactly this. This album sees the front man really pushing himself forward both musically and creatively whilst littering the record with those nostalgic, Verve-esque moments that made us fall in love at the beginning.

An amazing string section features on the up beat opener Are You Ready with Ashcroft howling in ultra hip reverb… and in response to your question Richie, YES we are READY. It’s interesting to note that all string arrangements on the album are by the legendary Benjamin Wright , who has worked with artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin and Outkast, and who scored the strings on Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Born Again embodies the free spirited/optimistic tone of this album.. wait.. did I just write that about RA?? Well it seems the drugs ARE working on The United Nations of Sound, with uplifting results. Ashcroft manages to prove he can still pull your heart strings with the melancholy Let’s Do This Thing Called Life and She Brings Me The Music.

How Deep Is Your Man takes a trip down the Mississippi River via Clarksdale then New Orleans and in Royal Highness the riff’ borrows straight from the Velvets Sweet Jane. Both are nice surprises.

Other outstanding tracks include America and the cathartic album closer Let My Soul Rest.

• RPA & The United Nations of Sound is out July 12th.
• Watch Are You Ready?
• Preview the album and the tour.

If you’ve not heard today’s incredible 10th anniversary Splendour In the Grass lineup, have you not a computer / radio / phone / ears / eyes????

OK so camping tickets are $450 (ouch), but we’ve done the math & it turns that makes each set $5.55… Five and half bucks to heard the new LCD album live!? The full lineup is below, with our favourite acts on the LHS. (Full disclosure, they’re all ours!)

In your pre-Splendour research mode, we’re willing to help you out even further by giving you:

• Laura Marling Ltd Edn I Speak Because I Can CD/DVD with 5 free downloads, postcard artwork, and lyrics booklet
• Jonsi blockmounted poster featuring Go album art
• Operator Please signed 7″ vinyl of Logic / Logic (Dolby Anol Remix)
• Ben Harper & Relentless7 signed blockmounted poster featuring White Lies… art
• Gorillaz limited edition Plastic Beach CD/DVD
• Hot Chip One Life Stand double gatefold vinyl
• Goldfrapp Headfirst collector’s edition cassette

Just head to our sister store at theinsong.com/splendour, buy any of the singles or albums to receive competition details, and tell us in 25 words or less how you plan to warm up for Splendour.

Richard Ashcroft, The Verve’s main man, has unveiled the first material from his new solo project ‘The United Nations of Sound’ on NME.

The track Are You Ready? is a pumping tune and is as uplifting and motivational as the name suggests. It was produced by NoID and sees Ashcroft working with a host of new musical collaborators (ie, we don’t know who just yet, details soon). The United Nations of Sound album (working title Redemption) is due out sometime in March, with the first single Are You Ready? supposedly being a blueprint for the sound.

So, here’s your new morning-jog-motivation track… turn up your speakers and listen in.

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