Although the landscape of popular music has changed since their last release the Verve has put together a powerful and diverse collection of new songs that are as resonant as anything they have previously released. Forth is a fine amalgamation of the sonic psychedelic of their early work coupled with a more straight forward songwriting style that brought the band into the mainstream on their last offering 1994’s Urban Hymns.
The album is a definite sign of progression, evident in the band cohesively applying their sonic tonalities of texture to a more sculpted structure (also evolving from singer Richard Ashcroft’s solo work), while stylistically keeping it simple. Out of this structure, a diverse palate of colors shine. Like the dance worthy swagger in "Love is Noise" and on signature dream scape wonders such as "Numbness."
The mixing on Forth places Ashcroft’s vocals more in the forefront of the music, but they are never over shadowing. His baritone audibly rests where it’s evenly supported by waves of complimentary melodic nuances that propel each song's journey. Yet what gives this album its greatest appeal is the unsung, subtle precision from the bass and percussion team of Simon Jones and Pete Salisbury. The foundation of each song have a solid clarity. Making room for guitarist Nick McCabe’s tones to resonate with propensity far past the dissipating distorted wall-of-sounds in earlier efforts; this allows Ashcroft room to explore with more variety on such tracks as the sonorous "Noise Epic" to the delicacy of "Valium Skies." The album also features Ashcroft continuing to explore themes of existence and morality in the quest for comprehension of the human condition, evident on tracks such as the title track "Sit and Wonder" and "Appalachian Springs" (“Does any body know really know where we’re going to go?”). In the age of super groups and the new incarnations of established bands, it’s rare to find a band able to come together after a long absence and produce original, interesting and vibrant work. Forth is worthy of its title.
Aaron Simms
http://www.theverve.co.uk/
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