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22 Dreams - Paul Weller
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“Come out to play,” Weller sings on ‘Light Nights’, the opening track on this, his ninth solo album, and it seems as though The Modfather is acting on his own request. 22 Dreams is arguably the most varied, focused and, yes, playful collection of songs he has so far produced as a solo artist.
It’s an album that must be listened to in its entirety. The tracks breathe and flow into one another and this is certainly no assembly of singles. Sure there are ‘60s r’n’b and mod anthems on show, namely the title track, but on the whole Weller achieves something really quite special: while no song on here is by any means vital, it is clear how vital he feels they are.
The excitement flows through every journey into Weller’s musical intrigue, from Eastern interludes to sauntering faux-jazz, while the rickety performances on the more predictable offerings lend a sinuous warmth and depth to them. This is an album that covers new ground for the artist, and yet does so without the slightest hint of stuffiness or over-stylising. Noteworthy too is how much Weller’s voice has progressed. While the icon has never been a great lyricist, on ‘Song For Alice’ he keeps his Woking growl in check and sings quite tenderly.
All in all, Weller seems to have found a comfortable compromise between experimentation and indulgence and, by thankfully forgoing the dad-rock of his recent offerings, has created a charming and acutely British album.
Jim Holmes
