Richard Ashcroft and his band The Verve seemed poised to take over the world five years ago. Their soaring, majestic single, ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’, had been acclaimed, their album Urban Hymns was selling by the proverbial truckload and they had the mouths and the dead-eyed mystique to ensure acres of music press coverage.

But then the already-strong personal differences between guitarist Nick McCabe and Ashcroft grew and intensified. There were walkouts and reconciliations, quarrels and bitter feuds. Slowly, acrimoniously, the band fell apart.

Since that time, Richard Ashcroft has ploughed his own solitary furrow, releasing his first solo album, Alone With Everybody, in 2000. Although his last effort was poorly-received, hopes were high that this time round, Ashcroft would prove his mettle.