Intense Records

A Northern Soul (2LP Brick Red Colour)

UMR
7844724
Indie, National Album Day 2025, Rock
2x12"

£29.99 (£35.99 incl. VAT)

Subsumed in myth and hearsay, the backdrop to the making of The Verves second album, issued in July 1995, has been thoroughly documented. It is a matter of record that the turbulent chemistry within the band Richard Ashcroft, Nick McCabe, Simon Jones and Pete Salisbury - during its making forced the first fracturing of their union shortly after its release, but listening now it is also clear that it is one of the finest rock albums of the era.As such it is a worthy addition to the UK National Album Day 2025 celebration of the genre; a record of towering musicianship on which four lads from Wigan delivered more than an hour of frequently heavy, brooding and confessional grooves, with their trademark psychedelic blooms and affecting melodies in full effect. And its worth noting that producer Owen Morris, who was central to the excesses that fuelled the album sessions, made a significant creative contribution. According to guitarist McCabe, he managed to capture the power of the bands live performances on record better than anyone they have ever worked with.Though it was largely disregarded by mainstream press and radio outlets when it first appeared,A Northern Soulhas deservedly picked up a cult following on both sides of the Atlantic, with many of those that missed it first time around becoming converts following the monster success ofUrban Hymns.As lead singer Richard Ashcroft put it at the time: "[The] doors have opened for me personally with my writing. We've been liberated. Touring, you get lost on a rock and roll adventure. You're on the Stardust trip. But then you come home and it's time to get twenty Regal and a pastie and assess who you are. That's why the new album's got more soul to it. It's modern Northern blues."The bone-crunching riff of This Is Music was unleashed as the lead single in May 1995, followed by the reflective acoustic gem On Your Own a month later. The group then went on the road in the UK - including appearances at the Glastonbury and Phoenix Festivals - and the US before returning to the UK to play at Glasgows T in the Park.At its conclusion, Ashcroft announced his departure from the band and the third single, History, was released after they parted ways. In retrospect it offered a foretaste of Ashcrofts songwriting direction onUrban Hymnsbut on its release the idea that another album by The Verve might ever exist appeared fanciful andA Northern Soulwas regarded as a worthy full stop to short but incandescent career.This 30thanniversary pressing, using the acclaimed 2016 remaster, is on red opaque vinyl, chosen for its proximity to the colour of the corduroy trousers worn by bassist Jones on the reverse of the sleeve.Track ListingSide 1A New DecadeThis Is MusicOn Your OwnSo It GoesSide 2A Northern SoulBrainstorm InterludeDrive You HomeSide 3HistoryNo Knock On My DoorLifes An OceanSide 4Stormy Clouds(Reprise)