Paul Weller – Fat Pop (Volume 1) Polydor Records

On May 14th, Paul Weller releases his 16th solo album since his self-titled debut in 1992, which comes in just under twelve months following June 2020’s magnificent, chart-topping On Sunset.

With many ideas for new songs stored on his phone, Paul started to record them on his own with just vocals, piano and guitar which he’d send to his core band members (drummer Ben Gordelier, Steve Cradock on guitar and bassist Andy Crofts) to add their parts.

Fat Pop (Volume 1) – Paul adding the “Volume 1” to keep options  open for a second volume in the future –  is a diverse selection of sounds. No one style dominates. The sound of ‘Fat Pop (Volume 1)’ album is urgent to laid back, powerful yet microscopic, however the album is both multi-faceted and wonderfully expressive, business as usual when charting Mr, Weller in creative accomplishments, it seems.

‘Cosmic ‘Fringes’ feels more electronic, only with Paul’s front-footed vocals. The album title track, ‘Fat Pop’ feels works well as does single Shades Of Blue’ is wholesome lyric mana. Also, with a solid chunky percussive groove of ‘Moving Canvas’, is a tribute to Iggy Pop no less.

The quality of tracks like ‘Cobweb Connections’, ‘Failed’ to ‘The Pleasure’ and Glad Times’ are more than supporting fillers, far from it, the raise the imaginational bar higher.

Similarly, ‘Better Times’ and ‘Still Glides The Stream’ are both accomplished as the 12 track that make up Fat Pop (Volume 1) only with more guile.

Paul Weller knows his craft, from the days as frontman fir The Jam, Style Council and with this sixteenth solo album, I expected heartfelt lyric and adept arrangements, but over such a range of music stylings only over-arched by Paul’s inventiveness and vision. You don’t get many of this quality for a pound. 7.8/10 Steve Janes

16-Nov-21 Oxford New Theatre

17-Nov-21 Bath The Forum

19-Nov-21 Liverpool Eventim Olympia

20-Nov-21 Llandudno Venue Cymru

22-Nov-21 Southampton O2 Guildhall

23-Nov-21 Southend Cliffs Pavilion

24-Nov-21 Margate Winter Gardens

26-Nov-21 Stoke Victoria Hall

27-Nov-21 Sheffield Octagon Centre

29-Nov-21 Glasgow Barrowland

30-Nov-21 Aberdeen  Music Hall

1-Dec-21 Middlesbrough Town Hall

3-Dec-21 Norwich UEA

4-Dec-21 Lincoln Engine Shed

5-Dec-21 Cambridge Corn Exchange

31-Mar-22 Plymouth Pavilions

1-Apr-22 Portsmouth Guildhall

2-Apr-22 Brighton Centre

4-Apr-22 Blackburn King George’s Hall

5-Apr-22 York Barbican

6-Apr-22 Hull Bonus Arena

9-Apr-22 Leicester De Montfort Hall

10-Apr-22 Leicester De Montfort Hall

12-Apr-22 Dundee Caird Hall

13-Apr-22 Edinburgh Usher Hall

15-Apr-22 Manchester O2 Apollo

16-Apr-22 Newcastle O2 City Hall

17-Apr-22 Newcastle O2 City Hall

19-Apr-22 Carlisle The Sands Centre

20-Apr-22 Bradford St George’s Hall

22-Apr-22 London O2 Forum Kentish Town

For the latest news on tour dates see www.paulweller.com