NEW YORK (By Samantha Bowman/ Virgin Records) - Virgin Records has announced the forthcoming release of "KEYS TO THE WORLD," the new album from Richard Ashcroft. The legendary British artist's critically acclaimed third solo album - which made a phenomenal chart entry in the UK last month, coming in at No 2, just behind Arctic Monkeys' record-setting debut album - will hit stores across North
America on March 21st.
Formerly the singer and chief songwriter in the Verve, one of the most influential and successful bands of the 1990's, Ashcroft has been hailed as "the best singer in the world" by no less an authority than Coldplay's Chris Martin. Ashcroft will celebrate the US release of "KEYS TO THE WORLD" with his first North American tour in six years. He will join Coldplay as special guest on their upcoming series of arena dates, kicking off March 17th at Kanata, Ontario's Corel Centre (see attached itinerary). Ashcroft previously teamed with Coldplay last year, accompanying the band on their UK tour, as well with joining them onstage at Live8 for an electrifying rendition of the Verve's classic, "Bittersweet Symphony."
Produced by Ashcroft with longtime studio collaborator Chris Potter (the Rolling Stones, Sarah McLachlan), "KEYS TO THE WORLD" sees the pioneering Britrock artist addressing a variety of themes that have long permeated his songwriting: depression and happiness, religion and death, the world and its people, love and how to maintain it. The collection spans an array of sonic moods and timeless melodies, from the raw rock stomp of "Why Not Nothing?" and the harpsichord swagger of first single "Break The Night With Colour," to the Curtis Mayfield-sampling swing of "Music Is Power" and the title tracks' muscular groove. Throughout, Ashcroft sings from the heart, while expressing his always rich emotional range, at turns thoughtful, downbeat, gentle, angry and optimistic.
"KEYS TO THE WORLD" has been celebrated in the UK as a milestone work in Ashcroft's already extraordinary career. The album has drawn rapturous applause from all corners of the British media, from music magazines to mainstream press. "Very focused and quietly anthemic," declared Mojo, "(Ashcroft) reflects on the state of the world, love and music, wrapping it up in muscular grooves, Southern soul shadings and astutely placed strings." "His voice is aging beautifully," noted Q. "It's when Ashcroft breaks out his trademark cosmic invective that things really fly...it sounds thrilling."
In a four-starred rave, Uncut praised the album for "its stately pace and its burnished sense of grandeur," further commending the set for possessing "grandiose themes, sepulchral string arrangements and a side order of epic." "It's hard not to be impressed by 'KEYS TO THE WORLD,'" observed the Guardian, while the Independent's Andy Gill noted that "the music - a blend of vaunting piano riffs, lowing strings and layered guitars - recalls the Verve's mature work."
In addition, Ashcroft's recent run of live performances have drawn equally ecstatic reviews. "It was a pleasure to see him reveling in his music once again," raved the Evening Standard,"performing like the star he never ceased to be...It's good to have him back." The Guardian's Caroline Sullivan declared Ashcroft's London show to be "A momentous return...His voice had new resonance and purpose...it seemed clear his time is coming around again." David Sinclair, writing in the Times, noted Ashcroft's "new air of musical maturity and emotional being," concluding that "one of the great rock 'n' roll romantics is back." NME summed it up best: "Nearly 15 years on from the first time we clapped eyes on him, NME would like, once again, to declare Richard Ashcroft 'a superstar.'"
RICHARD ASHCROFT On Tour w/Coldplay - North America 2006
MARCH
17 Kanata, ONT Corel Centre
19 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
20 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
22, 23 Toronto, ONT Air Canada Center
25 E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena
26, 27 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum
30, 31 Chicago, IL United Center
APRIL
3 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
4 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
6 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
