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Post by mimmihopps on Feb 25, 2021 12:15:51 GMT -5
...will be released on 14th May!
I’ve just pre-ordered a limited picture disc, red vinyl, casette and a deluxe CD. Exciting time!
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on Feb 26, 2021 13:37:55 GMT -5
1. Cosmic Fringes [2:20] 2. True [2:07] 3. Fat Pop [3:19] 4. Shades of Blue [3:06] 5. Glad Times [4:03] 6. Cobwebs / Connections [2:56] 7. Testify [2:53] 8. That Pleasure [3:32] 9. Failed [2:43] 10. Moving Canvas [2:54] 11. In Better Times [4:47] 12. Still Glides the Stream [4:07]
The deluxe album also contains nine tracks from the Mid-Sömmer Musik live set, as well as bonus tracks 'Round the Floor', 'Serafina', 'Crowboy', 'Into the Sea', 'Pure Sound', and 'Fat Mix'.
I make this his shortest solo album so far at just under 39 minutes in its standard form. That's quite a marked change from his albums of late. On Sunset was 48 minutes despite only having 10 tracks, and True Meanings before that was only five minutes short of an hour.
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on Feb 26, 2021 13:43:43 GMT -5
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Post by defmaybe00 on Feb 26, 2021 16:28:47 GMT -5
Solo Weller has always been a bit hit and miss for me but I'm quite diggning this
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Post by mimmihopps on Feb 27, 2021 4:50:02 GMT -5
I'm listening to Weller talking on Shaun Keaveny show 2 days ago as I type.
Weller said Pet Shop Boys has done a great remix of COSMIC FRINGES (12 minutes long!) as well and it will be released at some point. Love Pet Shop Boys myself and looking forward to it!
Great to see that the audio from Midsomer Music is included as a disc 2 in his upcoming new album.
Loved Moving Canvas, Testify, Failed and Still Gildes The Stream live from the session.
Weller is the changing man himself. Let us surprise with his new challenge.
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on Feb 27, 2021 7:25:02 GMT -5
I'm listening to Weller talking on Shaun Keaveny show 2 days ago as I type. Weller said Pet Shop Boys has done a great remix of COSMIC FRINGES (12 minutes long!) as well and it will be released at some point. Love Pet Shop Boys myself and looking forward to it! Great to see that the audio from Midsomer Music is included as a disc 2 in his upcoming new album. Loved Moving Canvas, Testify, Failed and Still Gildes The Stream live from the session. Weller is the changing man himself. Let us surprise with his new challenge. Hmm. Weller and Pet Shop Boys is a surprising crossover project. Intriguing. |
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Post by globe on Feb 27, 2021 10:35:01 GMT -5
He's relentless these days! Really liking Cosmic Fingers but he looks a bit like Jimmy Saville in the video  |
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on Mar 1, 2021 18:10:34 GMT -5
Some info on the songs, courtesy of the Paul Weller News fanpage.
Cosmic Fringes ...“It’s not about anyone in particular” suggests Weller, “but i suppose it could be about a keyboard warrior, someone who is constantly brainstorming ideas but never gets around to doing them; someone talking the talk, but never doing anything.”
“When I first did the demo it was quite punky, a bit like The Stooges. It doesn’t sound anything like that now because then I had the idea of stripping it all back to just the drums and bass, [and] putting those synths on it. It’s got a bit of motoric feel to it, and a little bit glam rock too I think.”
True A song with all the attributes of the greatest Paul Weller numbers: fire in its belly, questing lyrics, boss horns, flashes of guitar fury, and a yearning melody you awake humming daily. It’s also a tremendous vocal, shared between Paul and Lia Metcalfe, the young Liverpudlian singer with The Mysterines.
“I really like her band, and I really like her singing” he says. “It makes a massive difference that we sang it live, in the same room. She’s got a really powerful voice, and I wanted to write something for us to sing together, so I did. Then I just sent the phone demo to Lia and two weeks later we cut it. That was one of the last things we did for the album, in around September”. Fat Pop
That brilliant, heavy bassline? “I did that. When we recorded it I was actually thinking about Cypress Hill, doing something that sounds like a DJ Muggs production. It’s got a bit of that. It’s my favourite song on the album I think, about all the times music’s been there for me.”
Shades of BlueA classic three-minute English pop kitchen sink drama, written by Paul Weller and his daughter Leah, who joins him on vocals. “Leah wrote the chorus for it and helped me finish it up. I wrote the verses. Reminds me of a suburban drama, a play.” Glad Times Sweeping, wistful, sparkling in shades of blue, Glad Times’ winning melancholia has been in the back of Weller’s mind for a while. “I wrote this with Tom [Doyle] and Ant [Brown]. They usually send me a backing track, and we work on it from there. It’s been around for a while, nearly made it onto On Sunset but didn’t quite fit. I really liked it, though, so I’m really glad it made it on to this album instead.”
Cobweb / Connections Pastoral introspections, featuring a lovely acoustic solo by P.W., and a string score by Hannah Peel. “I think the song is saying that the more you can be yourself and be happy with yourself, the more you change into something better. It’s not just good for you, it’s good for everyone else as well. ‘Save yourself and save everyone around you too.’ It’s from observation, but I suppose it’s about me too.” TestifySuperfly strutting, cut live in the studio with Andy Fairweather Low adding distinctive vocals and Jacko Peake on fine flute and saxophone. When allowed out of the house, it’ll be a future live favourite. “We had actually done it live two or three years ago” says Weller, “but, while I loved the groove, I never really got a grip on the song. Then I did this charity gig in Guildford--one of the last things I’ve done probably: some Stax songs with Andy Fairweather Low. Our voices sound so good together, and he’s such a lovely fellow, so I sent him the backing track. As soon as lockdown was lifted he came down to the studio for the afternoon. We cut it live, and that was it.”
That PleasureIn amongst those soulful strings, there is some barely contained rage in Weller’s voice as he sings ‘Lose your hypocrisy.’ “I suppose it’s my reaction to the whole Black Lives Matter movement” he explains. “You’re always on tender ground writing about that; but, regardless of my colour, any human being should be disturbed. You should be appalled and disgusted and shocked by those images of George Floyd being killed in the street. It has to stop. It’s a question for everyone.” Failed ‘All the things I never get / And all the things I never meant / And all the things that make no fucking sense… I’ve failed.’ “Yes, I’m asking myself the question” admits Weller, a man who has never been afraid of self-reflection in his songwriting. “It’s an angry song because I wrote it right after a massive row with my wife. But I like it. It’s honest. It’s not how I feel all the time, but it is how I feel some of the time. I’m just talking about me as a man. We all measure success in different ways.” It’s also one of his favourite songs on the album, a stand-out.
Moving CanvasA chunky, percussive groove, with the feel of Traffic but updated for the here-and-now. “It’s going to be great live that one. I wrote it about Iggy Pop. I hope he likes it, if he ever gets to hear it. It’s my tribute to him, even though it doesn’t sound anything like him. Aside from all the great records he’s made, as a performer he’s high art. It’s all about the Iggster.”
In Better TimesA plaintive plea with some beautiful sax and guitar breaks. “Cold in your eyes... Don’t you know you break my heart in two?” “It’s me talking to a young person who is going through something, addiction or mental health pressure or whatever, and just saying it’ll be alright. Just get through this bit and there’ll be better times to come; you’ll look back and you’ll see it differently.”
Still Glides the Stream A stately collaboration between Weller and long-time guitar foil Steve Cradock. “I had the chords and possibly the melody, which I sent to Cradock. And he sent me back a poem, and I edited that; then we sent it back and forth by phone. Lockdown songwriting. I just liked the poem. In my mind I was thinking about our road sweeper who’s a lovely fellow. I started thinking that there’s so many people in this country who form the infrastructure of it, and without whom we’d be fucked. But they’re looked down upon, not really noticed. So I was imagining their story. I did find out that there’s a book of the same name [by Flora Thompson], and Cradock said he had seen it in a shop. So that’s where the title comes from. I just liked the poetry of it. Steve’s a very soulful fella.”
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Post by 2nz on Mar 4, 2021 11:30:32 GMT -5
Whilst this isn't the worst it really does have a feel of "did you hear Paul from accounts has formed a band with Dave from IT? They've even made a video. I mean, I knew he was a bit strange, but fucking hell, his wife leaving him has left him pretty mental" |
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on Mar 4, 2021 19:23:16 GMT -5
Whilst this isn't the worst it really does have a feel of "did you hear Paul from accounts has formed a band with Dave from IT? They've even made a video. I mean, I knew he was a bit strange, but fucking hell, his wife leaving him has left him pretty mental" These kind of songs (snappy runtime, light-hearted lyric, meat-and-potatoes rock with some sonic noodling) usually underwhelm when released individually as singles/album teasers, but make more sense in the context of a full album.
If recent albums are anything to go by, I'm sure Fat Pop (Volume 1) will end up a satisfying hodgepodge of Weller's favourite genres and influences, and 'Cosmic Fringes' will have its part to play in creating that bigger picture.
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Post by mimmihopps on Mar 7, 2021 16:38:35 GMT -5
Weller is joining Jools Holland from his Black Barn Studio coming Friday!
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Post by mkoasis on Mar 8, 2021 0:29:21 GMT -5
I’m most excited about Moving Canvas. It’s nice to see some appreciation for Iggy Pop. He is such a legend and beyond influential. Having spent a year listening through his discography, I can say his work is always interesting.
I definitely didn’t expect another Weller album so soon. I’m still feeling like On Sunset is so fresh sounding. So this is a total surprise and I’m keen to hear it.
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Post by rorymcbride on Mar 9, 2021 3:33:16 GMT -5
He's relentless these days! Really liking Cosmic Fingers but he looks a bit like Jimmy Saville in the video That was my first thought. "We've got a letter here, from a young man from Woking and he writes- Dear Jim, please can you fix it for me to dress up like you in a pop video. Love from Paul aged 62." |
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Post by mimmihopps on Mar 12, 2021 7:37:13 GMT -5
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Post by mimmihopps on Mar 12, 2021 7:54:54 GMT -5
Just saw on the venue site. One of his Dutch dates next month has been rescheduled to May 2022, so I take the entire European tour in April/May this year will be reschduled again (second time!) Good things come to those who wait! joladella, don't give your hopes up! |
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Post by joladella on Mar 12, 2021 11:09:35 GMT -5
Just saw on the venue site. One of his Dutch dates next month has been rescheduled to May 2022, so I take the entire European tour in April/May this year will be reschduled again (second time!) Good things come to those who wait! joladella , don't give your hopes up! Sadly, Vienna has been cancelled without rescheduled date. I already got my voucher. (I think that's the 3rd now!)
But, I won't give up, I will see him one day and if it's the last thing I'll do! |
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Post by mimmihopps on Mar 12, 2021 13:49:55 GMT -5
Another Weller dates of mine has been rescheduled to June 2022 too.
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Post by mimmihopps on Mar 12, 2021 16:37:11 GMT -5
Entire European tour has been rescheduled to May/June 2022.
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Post by mimmihopps on Mar 12, 2021 17:18:36 GMT -5
Just watched Weller playing Glad Times on Jools Holland.
I love this song!
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on Mar 12, 2021 17:40:11 GMT -5
Just watched Weller playing Glad Times on Jools Holland. I love this song! I’ve listened to it loads today. I’m impressed by how moody the verses are. That’s not something you expect from Weller. Even in The Jam he was more spiky than moody. But with the way he sings the verses of ‘Glad Times’, and the arrangement of the music, you get a real sense of frustration and loneliness. |
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Post by theyknowwhatimean on Mar 12, 2021 18:39:13 GMT -5
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Post by modxxii on Mar 13, 2021 2:16:03 GMT -5
Really like Glad Times.
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Post by mimmihopps on Mar 13, 2021 8:05:50 GMT -5
Just watched Weller playing Glad Times on Jools Holland. I love this song! I’ve listened to it loads today. I’m impressed by how moody the verses are. That’s not something you expect from Weller. Even in The Jam he was more spiky than moody. But with the way he sings the verses of ‘Glad Times’, and the arrangement of the music, you get a real sense of frustration and loneliness. I do understand what you mean, but I wouldn't say frustration and loneliness. I see rather hope and the light for the future in this song. Despite of the situation the world has been dealing with past year/months and caused so many lives by this pandemic, still babies were born, people get married, scientists, doctors and nerses have been working to save lives. Weller can't do wrong. At least for me.  I have to wait for his rescheduled gigs for 2 years, but it's worth to wait. There's no time to be sobbing. Life is short and worth to enjoy every moment. |
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Post by mimmihopps on Mar 30, 2021 7:14:37 GMT -5
Love it! Weller can't go wrong.
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Post by beatlesandstones on Mar 30, 2021 8:44:58 GMT -5
So far I really like Glad Times and Failed
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Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5
Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5