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. It’s not hyperbole to state that this new album, titled Fat Pop (Volume 1), is among his most compelling collections. It’s an absolute scorcher.
During spring last year, after his tour dates were postponed, Paul Weller needed something else to focus on. 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. Despite it being strange not being together, it kept the wheels rolling and sanity prevailing. The band reconvened at Weller’s Black Barn studio in Surrey when restrictions were lifted to finish the work with the shape of the album becoming clear to all.
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. There’s the synth-heavy, future-wave strut of Cosmic Fringes, the stately balladeering of Still Glides The Stream (co-written with Steve Cradock), the chunky percussive groove of Moving Canvas (a tribute to Iggy Pop no less), and the kind of dramatic immediate pop symphonies on Failed, True and Shades of Blue with which Paul Weller has hooked in generation after generation of devotee.
As ever, Fat Pop, sees a number of guests contributing including Lia Metcalfe, the young Liverpudlian singer with The Mysterines who combines her tremendous vocal as well as a song writing credit to True. Andy Fairweather Low adds his distinctive vocals to superfly strutting Testify and Paul’s daughter Leah co-wrote and features on the classic 3 minute pop kitchen sink drama Shades Of Blue which will be the first single taken from the album. Hannah Peel is back in the fray adding her classic string scores to Cobweb Connections and Still Glides The Stream.
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
