The Verve are due to release Love Is Noise as the first single from their new album, Forth on 11 August 2008.

So, after 9 years apart, what should we expect from this band who once ruled the world with their Urban Hymns album?

Well, Love Is Noise turns those assumptions of a sequel to Urban Hymns on their head. The most shocking thing? It’s up-tempo.

Some things remain the same though. The sound is signature Verve, it’s echoed and layered and you do indeed feel as if you’re wrapped in a warm and trippy blanket of noise.

Richard Ashcroft’s voice is pleasingly hoarse and throaty, giving more of a rock vibe than we remember from The Verve of yesteryear. However, the high-pitched, repeating ‘uh-oh’ tends to become an irritation after a while…

All in all, Love Is Noise is an impressive comeback single – fans will love this, and they might gain a few new converts along the way. David Abravanel sounds suitably impressed:

Nick McCabe’s guitar hasn’t been this majestic since the Verve’s debut, while Simon Jones’s descending bass riff and Peter Salisbury’s pounding post-punk drums form a solid bedrock. It’s also nice to see that subtlety is still out the door for the Verve.

However, Cam Lindsay is underwhelmed by the new single:

For me, the Verve were always as much, if not more about hearing what McCabe could come up with on his guitar and pedal board (hence my dissatisfaction with Urban Hymns), but he’s virtually absent throughout the single’s entirety.

Two differing viewpoints there, but what do you think – a stroke of genius or a step in the wrong direction for The Verve?

The Verve’s Official Website.

I’ll admit to being a bandwagon hopper and knowing The Verve mostly through Urban Hymns. I had high expectations for Richard Ashcroft’s solo work after they split, but unfortunately he never enjoyed the same level of solo success.

According to the press sources, their motivation for reforming is “Getting back together for the joy of the music”. That’s one thing The Verve did best. However, it’s been 10 years since Urban Hymns, and I can’t help wondering if they’ll pick up where they left off, or we’ll see a major shift in their style as a result of a decade apart.

If I one (slightly) negative comment, it’s that I never want to hear Lucky Man again as long as I live. One of the most over-played songs in the history of music?

Anyway, welcome back to The Verve – check out their website and MySpace page for more information