release date: May 24, 2024
format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Paul Weller
label: Polydor - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Ship of Fools" - 2. "Flying Fish" - 4. "Nothing" (4 / 5) - 5. "My Best Friend's Coat" - 6. "Rise Up Singing" - 7. "I Woke Up" - 9. "Sleepy Hollow" - 11. "Soul Wandering" (4 / 5)
17th studio album by Paul Weller following three years after Fat Pop (Volume 1) (May 2021) is not the perhaps predicted Volume 2, but the title aside, it's more than close enough 'cause fact is, Weller certainly has found his melody box in recent years and simply seems unable to make an unrelevant album. By the way, 66 of course hints at his current age, the album being released the day before his 66th birthday is Weller's first in a long row not to feature his near usual musical kindred: engineer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and co-composer Jan 'Stan' Kybert; however, the album both feature stable instrumentalists as well as several more prominent appearances, which count Suggs (aka Graham McPherson of Madness), Bobby Gillespie (of Primal Scream), Christophe Vaillant (of Le SuperHomard), Erland Copper, Steve Cradock, Noel Gallagher, Richard Hawley, Dr. Robert (aka Robert Howard), and Hannah Peel.
The album might as well be titled 'Volume 2 (66)' or something similar as it takes up the baton from the 2021 album. It's not strictly from the same night out on town as the '21 album had more uptempo songs and this one appears more of a mellow-mooded breed. Some tracks contain a certain The Style Council touch, at least when speaking Café Bleu-period quality, a nostalgic tendency also found on the predecessor. And generally speaking, it's a well-balanced album soothing in melancholic softness that nevertheless still welcomes you inside with the impossible mix of musical aristocracy and working-class appeal and with a strong sense for stylistic diversity without losing one bit of coherency. On top of that, the melodies stand next to one another seeking your attention - it's simply filled with strong songs and already applies for the title as one of his majors. Impressive, that's what this is, and naturally highly recommended.
