On Sunset
Polydor, 2020
10/10
The legendary and highly influential former frontman for The Jam, Paul Weller returns with a 15th solo studio album, and On Sunset, much like all the work of his career, has The Modfather exploring all sorts of interesting textures and plenty of creative song craft.
“Mirror Ball” starts the album with much atmosphere as Weller’s soaring pipes guide a very mature landscape that alternates between dance rock territory as well as calm moments of exploration in its 8 minutes, and “Baptiste” follows with a very soulful delivery of organs, brass and percussion.
Further along, the title track moves with calm melodies in the soft rock adventure, while “Equanimity” benefits from a firm pop quality to its retro appeal. “Earth Beat”, one of the album’s best, then gets a bit psychedelic with a playful execution of electronic fun. “Rockets” exits the album with some sci-fi folk, which parallels the best work of his idol, David Bowie.
The deluxe version of the record offers some bonus tracks, including the electro-pop of “4th Dimension”, and the bare “I’ll Think Of Something”, where Weller’s distinct vocals are front and center on the gorgeous acoustic tune that builds into a busy display of massive skill. Alternate versions of “On Sunset” and “Baptiste” finish the exit, providing a nice peek into other avenues of these two strong tunes.
Now in his 60’s, Weller has kept it no secret that his preferences have become more avant-garde these days, and even though a younger version of himself might have scoffed at a record like On Sunset, ultimately he’s still an iconoclastic songwriter with a deep appreciation of melody that bridges art and music with much intrigue.
Travels well with: Joe Jackson- The Duke; Cat Stevens- Back To Earth