The Verve - Love Is Noise

If their headlining show at Glastonbury Festival last month, or the reunion live dates of 2007, suggested The Verve were sounding stronger than ever, then 'Love Is Noise' - the lead single from the band's fourth album 'Forth' - will go even further to quash claims the band would resort back to the dull sounds of Ashcroft's bland solo career.

Where the song sits is between the orchestral swell of 'Urban Hymns' and the psychedelic acid-rock of 'A Northern Soul'. The focal point is Ashcroft's vocal - now deeper and coarser with age - snarls with more passionate than their decade-old last album could ever offer, while the rest of the band dauble with a steady drum beat, a strange but hypnotic sampled vocal and the faint hint of strings. Nick McCabe's experimental guitar experience is severely lacking, but the band would never return to their 1993 'Storm In Heaven' days (the time since has seen them grow up).

After ten years away from topping the charts and filling out huge outdoor events, the return of The Verve is a most welcome one. It's just a shame Coldplay decided to make their comeback at the same time.