Rachael Chinery
This ‘Paul Weller’ review was written by Rachael Chinery, a GIGsoup contributor.
Commander of mod-kind and baring a deflated reputation that came in turn with the stigma surrounding his ‘step too far’ with the experimental bellyflop that was ‘Sonik Kicks’ – a record housing a detrimental overuse of exploratory layers of abstract effects and echoing what hastily evolved in to the growing perception of a musical mid-life crisis; intent to dismiss such perceptions, ‘Saturn’s Pattern’ exhibits precisely that and abolishes concerns of his disputable 2012 mishap with a product of signature mod roots and essential familiarity, albeit occupying a self-confessed ‘progressive’ sound.
With ambiance comfortably nestled beneath snarling wah-doused guitars and distorted vocals, ‘White Sky’ seizes aspects of ‘Modern Classics’, enhancing them with a psyche inspired grit delivered by Manchester producers, Amorphous Androgynous; whilst ‘Going My Way’ dilutes the aura of the precedent set with the debut track; and tracks ‘Long Time’ and ‘In The Air’ feature further elements of former experimentalism with the continued appearance of sci-fi effects, with ‘In The Air’ exhibiting the varied usage of distorted vocals that heavily features throughout ‘Saturn’s Pattern’.
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‘Phoenix’ hauntingly illustrates ethereal backing vocals conjoint with subtle layers of light instrumentation, occasional overdriven guitar providing a welcome disparity, provoking an enigmatic sense of mystery and illusion albeit maintaining a distinct familiarity to ‘The Style Council’ and definitively reflecting what Weller indicated the album as, ‘progressive’.
Saturn’s Pattern’s familiarity boasts a triumphant renaissance, romanticism and contemplation, concurrent with a continued use of Weller’s previously attained explorative vision, intertwining notorious qualities of his legacy with The Style Council, The Jam and early solo career, with the newfound ambitious concept uncovered in his latter two albums, ‘22 Dreams’ and ‘Sonik Kicks’; to deliver a record that possesses elements of blues, psychedelia, jazz, profound production value, and perfected balance of reconciliation with his acclaimed sound whilst developing the notion Weller evidently holds faith and enjoyment in, that unquestionably marks ‘Paul Weller’s’ finest piece of work in years.
‘Saturns Pattern’ is out now
You can see Paul Weller live at one of the following venues…
26th June 2015 – Hyde Park, London TICKETS
28th June 2015 – Glastonbury Festival TICKETS
1st July 2015 – La Riviera, Madrid TICKETS
2nd July 2015 – Jardins Palau Reial De Pedralbes, Barcelona TICKETS
5th July 2015 – Anfiteatro Del Vittoriale, Gardone Riviera TICKETS
7th July 2015 – Viena Opera House, Viena TICKETS
8th July 2015 – Parco Di Villa Varda, Brugera TICKETS
9th July 2015 – Auditorium Parco Della Musica, Rome TICKETS
16th November 2015 –Waterfront Hall Auditorium, Belfast TICKETS
17th November 2015 – Olympia Theatre, Dublin TICKETS
18th November 2015 – Olympia Theatre, Dublin TICKETS
20th November 2015 – Brighton Centre, Brighton TICKETS
21st November 2015 – BIC, Bournemouth TICKETS
22nd November 2015 – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff TICKETS
24th November 2015 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow TICKETS
25th November 2015 – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle TICKETS
27th November 2015 – Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham TICKETS
28th November 2015 – Manchester Arena, Manchester TICKETS
29th November 2015 – First Direct Arena, Leeds TICKETS
4th December 2015 – Eventium Apollo, London TICKETS
5th December 2015 – Eventium Apollo, London TICKETS
The full track-listing for ‘Saturns Pattern’ is as follows…
‘White Sky’
‘Saturns Pattern’
‘Going My Way’
‘Long Time’
‘Pick It Up’
‘I’m Where I Should Be’
‘Phoenix’
‘In the Car…’
‘These City Streets’
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