Heavy Soul - Heavy and soulful

There was once a time when an eighteen year old Paul Weller hung a sign around his neck denouncing an article accusing him of having the seat of his sta-press firmly rooted in the past.

"how can I be a fucking revivalist when I'm only 18 ?"

or there abouts was the blatant message from the young Weller.

Fairly simple language for a fairly simple audience - the music press of the seventies. Who would have thought it possible that twenty years later this same person (he probably is just flesh and blood but it's tough to prove) not only has survived being slated, by just about everybody for either wearing his heart on his sleeve or being a recluse reluctant to give even the hint of an opinion, but shows the same belief in everything that was close to his heart all those albums, singles, B-sides, live shows and break-up's ago.

Now with the release of his fourth solo effort, Heavy Soul, he wears not only his heart firmly placed but comes alive in the form of eleven songs (and a two-parter) with a live soulful feeling that really is a live Weller stage show, the only difference being you can read the lyrics and sleeve notes, you know which song is coming next . There is no agonising wait to see if he wiil actually succum to audience dreams and play your fave jam or Style Council track that you've never heard live 'cos some bastard stole your scoot and you couldn't get to the gig. no this is a real album with production but nothing slick over produced and hopefully the odd mistake adding to the feel. No this is a raw, on first listening "hack" at a studio live album. The fourth track "Brushed" is the closest thing to an unfinished track as you can get but you think to yourself "hey that's not fair this guy took months writing....." and so on, and until you've listened to all the tracks more than once or twice each it's tough to get an idea of what this album is about, does it have to be about something or is it a collection of songs about a collection of ideas accumulated over the years and only now realise their place on an album, who knows, who cares? we seem to make too much of each new thing from established artists anyway. It's almost a cliché but I am listening to the album as I write and I have to type a lyric as I hear it now....

"if I could be the sun I'd shine in your life"

once again simple words but now not for the simple seventies music press but for the paying public and also, as is always the missing element in not so great songwriters he is writing for himself, something others try to hide and then lose their way.

"Wish I knew you well"

this stands alone as an upbeat positive thinking and moving album and there are very few around that don't tell you how bad life is and who collects the cash for your hard graft, Paul Weller doesn't need to do that with every album, this ability he has but there has always been another side deep down and this bunch of songs proves the wets wrong.

"Driving Nowhere"

It was said a couple of years ago that "Monster" is R.E.M.s' sex album well if that be true the Heavy Soul is Weller's. the whole thing goes from sex in the first track to vanity in the second, regret, sex, fate, faith, and wisdom throughout the rest of the album.

"did you fink I should?"

this is an artist who is finally coming to terms with where he is and its now up to the fans, the fans who mid eighties despaired, lost faith and generally bought crap albums, to accept the route he took to get himself the sort of freedom he now has. some of us are back from the wilderness waiting for a tide, were just along for the ride. still curious and once again pleasure sifting but definately along for the ride.

KL

P.S. on a more personal note thanks to those who saw to it that I got a pre-released copy of

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