Richard Ashcroft’s music occupies a spiritual space somewhere between Wigan and Sheffield – Sheffield, Alabama that is (home of Muscle Shoals). Yes, I realise that puts it somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Give me a break here, I’m exercising some artistic licence. It’s the same Anglo-American crossover that colours the Rolling Stones’ output and goes some way towards explaining any comparisons.

Ashcroft’s classic songwriting chops and musical arrangements are informed by the likes of Springsteen, Dylan, Petty and Morrison (more Van than Jim). And the aforementioned Glimmer Twins’ unmistakeable sway is also in the mix. Just to get it out of the way, the Stones’ influence is most evident on ‘Born To Be Strangers’, with its slippery Some Girls-era disco-rock, and the rattling ‘Money Money’, which to these ears is reminiscent of ‘Heartbreaker’.

The voice is all his own though – a resonant velvety growl. While listening, I kept wondering whose voice it reminded me of, before coming to the conclusion that it was actually just him. Oddly enough, he goes a bit Dylan on ‘All My Dreams’; you’ll know what I mean when you hear it. With the glorious singing sitting pretty on a bed of acoustic guitars, lap-steels, tasty strings and some crisp production from Jon Kelly and Emre Ramazonaglu, it’s all supremely easy on the ears.

Although it occasionally occupies the middle of the road, Natural Rebel is still a strong outing from the ex-Verve man.

Out now.

7/10