I often feel like the only person in the world that actually rated Ashcroft’s last album, ‘Human Conditions’, I was forever told it was a bland, undirectional mess that said nothing to anyone but I still believe it was a little harshly received. Having said that I can quite easily take or leave him. Whilst the Verve projected a potent swagger in their personalities and songs that struck a balance between laidback shoegazing and progressive rock with a sting in its tail, Ashcroft as a solo artist has always walked down the safe well lit high streets, rather than risking the ill lit  snickets, listenable but over polished. Not one for sticking his neck out too far.

‘Key To The World’, much like his debut, ‘Alone With Everyone’, adopts a safe pop formula whilst attempting to appease Verve followers who maybe slipping way. This is very prominent on the track, ‘Words Just Get In The Way’, which echo’s Sonnet with such blatancy it’s scary. Whilst The Robbie Williams-esque recent single, ‘Break The Night With Colour’, already has its target audience mapped out.

It’s easy to understand peoples frustrations with him, for despite ‘Key’s To The World’ being his most focused release in commercial terms for nearly six years, there’s no real bite or edge, The title track is probably the one real classic here, a brilliantly placed backing vocal sample loop runs throughout a rhythmic piano lead melody, reminiscent of The Mondays mid period.

‘Key To The World’ left me feeling like I deserved more. This is a man with clear talent who needs the driving force of his previous band to nourish it. He appears lost and confused on his own, by the final track I felt decidedly unmoved by the vocal tones that could once shift a mountain, begging the question. What’s next for this indie legend?

6/10

James Heward