The Verve emerges from hiatus, readies Forth

Sometimes a break is just a break, even when it lasts for nine years.

The Verve, British rockers thrown headfirst into superstardom by 1997’s “Bittersweet Symphony,” are back after their nearly decade-long hiatus. The group’s fourth album, Forth, is set to be released stateside Aug. 19, one day after the disc’s international release.

The band released Forth’s first single, “Love Is Noise,” on June 23 on BBC Radio One. The song is currently streaming online at The Verve’s MySpace page.

Forth will be the band’s first album since 1997's Urban Hymns. In the interim, lead singer Richard Ashcroft has released three solo albums.

“This is a very special band, with four incredibly talented people," Jaz Summers, The Verve’s manager, told Billboard in February. "They made three great albums before. And they're going to make another great album now. There's a bit of magic when the four of them come together.”

Forth tracklisting:

1. Sit and Wonder
2. Love Is Noise
3. Rather Be
4. Judas
5. Numbness
6. I See Houses
7. Noise Epic
8. Valium Skies
9. Columbo
10. Appalachian Springs

In related news, The Verve is hitting plenty of European festivals on its current tour, including a headlining slot at Glastonbury.

June
27 - Cornwall, England @ The Eden Project
29 - Worthy Farm, Glastonbury, England @ Glastonbury Festival

July
4 - Werchter, Belgium @ Werchter  Festival
5 - Bobital, France @ Bobital Festival
11 - Balado, Kinross-shire @ T In The Park
16 - Livorno, Italy @ Italia Wave Festival
18 - Madrid, Spain @ Summercase Festival
19 - Barcelona, Spain @ Summercase Festival

August
9 - Tokyo, Japan @ Summer Sonic Festival
10 - Osaka, Japan @ Summer Sonic Festival
16 - Weston Park, Staffordshire, England @ V Festival
17 - Hylands Park, Chelmsford, England @ V Festival

Related links:
The Verve on MySpace
Richard Ashcroft on MySpace
YouTube: The Verve - "Bittersweet Symphony"

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