It has been described as Paul Weller’s White Album, a double ‘concept’ album containing the most eclectic mix of music you could imagine.
It is 15 years since the magnificent Wildwood was released followed two years later by Stanley Road, and since then Paul Weller has become, well boring really. With 22 Dreams, he has re-discovered the artistic freedom that allowed him to form The Style Council, only this time, more so.
The album was recorded over a year and the ‘concept’ is Weller’s attempt to capture the seasons. It is an ambitious effort by a man who, while retaining credibility, was in serious danger of being categorised as ’Dads Music’.
At 50 years old, Weller has loosened up, he has broken free from the rigid constraints of his mod music and taken on an all embracing approach to his new album. The result is an album that instantly sounds like an old friend, with a warm, endearing quality to the recording.
There’s some weird stuff in there too, Black Riveris perversely sung in the style of David Bowie doing Anthony Newley, God is a spoken word track and 111 is an indulgent electronica effort, but overall it works as a whole as intended. It really is a diverse collection of music which finds Weller on top form, experimenting like never before and sounding as though he is enjoying it too.
Watch the video of Echoes Round The Sun from the album 22 Dreams.
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