This might be in some part an isolation record, but it’s one that reaches outwards, bathed in a positive, collaborative glow. Paul Weller Fat Pop (Volume 1) The Modfather celebrates his long love of pop’s power By Pete Paphides 14th May 2021 Credit: Sandra Vijandi Now into his seventh decade, Paul Weller has. ‘Shades Of Blue’ is a touching pop vignette co-written and performed along with his daughter Leah. ‘Moving Canvas’, meanwhile, pays tribute to brilliant Iggy Pop: ‘You meet his gaze and then you turn to stone,” Weller sings. Opener ‘Cosmic Fringes’ bursts into life with a pump of slick electro-pop synth, Weller singing with playful braggadocio: “ I don’t believe my luck when I see him in the mirror.” It’s followed by a sunny soulful track, co-written with Lia Metcalfe of rising Liverpudlians The Mysterines (Weller’s a fan of the band and wanted the two of them to sing together). Never has the Modfather sounded quite so at ease. Paul Weller Releases New Single ‘Cosmic Fringes,’ Announces ‘Fat Pop’ Album Weller’s 16th solo set will be out on May 14, less than ten months after his last studio release, ‘On Sunset. The album is a delight: a generous collection of expertly crafted pop tracks, delivered with both the finesse of an artist of five decades’ experience and the lightness of touch that only comes when you’re having a blast. READ MORE: Paul Weller: “I’m trying different things as much as I can – time is of the essence, man”.Faced with no chance of performing ‘On Sunset’ live for the foreseeable future amid the pandemic, he instead delved into a vault of ideas he’d saved up on his phone, recording with his band remotely at first and then polishing things off with studio sessions over the summer. It’s an incredibly impressive run that shows no signs of slowing down soon.Though he only released the superb ‘On Sunset’ last July, ‘Fat Pop (Volume 1)’ is Paul Weller’s lockdown record. It’s a fitting finale for another slice of Paul Weller’s eclectic vision one he has been expanding over his lengthy and remarkably consistent forty-four year career. CD2 - Standard size tip-on sleeve and includes a printed inner sleeve. CD1 - Fat sized tip-on sleeve, includes a printed inner sleeve and a folded 12 page booklet. The track captures Weller’s booming vocals over a melodramatic score that throbs and glistens. CD2 recorded live at Black Barn Studios, Surrey, England August 7th 2020. The closing widescreen ballad “Still Glides the Stream” with its vivid, pulsating strings is a powerful highlight. Weller goes pop rocking on the bouncy “Failed,” another selection that hides a darker concept ( What kind of person have I really been?/I never took it, I just follow a dream…I failed) behind a catchy chorus and cool hooks. Weller revives his Style Council groove with the hefty strings and retro vibe of “The Pleasure,” a smooth slice of Philly International styled soul cloaking lyrics that encourage speaking out against social atrocities like Get up and get involved/It’s now or never/It’s time to make that change/Get in this together/Lose your hypocrisy. The electronic techno opener recalls early XTC, but once the guitars ramp up, the throbbing beat makes it a natural for a club hit even as the selection abruptly ends. The set is meant to be a compilation of singles, somewhat implied by the title (no word yet if there will be a Volume 2) and all but three of the dozen tunes clocking in under four minutes. They added parts until joining in person last summer to crank out the songs, many of them live in the studio. Home recordings were shared to band members electronically. The oddly yet humorously named Fat Pop (Volume 1) may not have come together so quickly if it wasn’t for the busy singer/songwriter looking for a project when his 2020 tour was canceled. It’s his fifth studio album in six years (there was also a double live package) remarkable, due not only to the amount of music but the reliable quality of his material. His 16th solo release (not counting previous work with The Jam or The Style Council) since 1992 comes less than a year after On Sunset (2020), which topped the charts in his homeland. While he’s a long way from matching the prolific Van Morrison or Willie Nelson in terms of sheer output, UK pop rocker Paul Weller has undoubtedly been on a roll lately.
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