![]() A largely solo affair, Songbook does feature a small smattering of guest spots with Celeste, Boy George and James Morrison all making an appearance on an intriguing album.Ĭheck out our dedicated station where we are tracks from An Orchestrated Songbook. CD in Deluxe Hardback DVD-sized casebound book with 32-page book and inserts. On record, it’s a brave endeavour that offers new light on elements of his storied discography. An Orchestrated Songbook is the new album by Paul Weller with Jules Buckley & The BBC Symphony Orchestra, released on 3 December 2021 through Polydor Records. Together with arranger Jules Buckley, Paul peered back through his catalogue, matching established greats against new cuts in an orchestral context. ![]() Weller held the concert on May 15, 2021, releasing it as An Orchestrated Songbook later in the year, and as something of a companion piece to Other Aspects: Live at Royal Festival Hall, the orchestrated live album he released just two years prior. His latest endeavour, An Orchestrated Songbook, found the songwriter escaping the studio, playing a very special one off show at London’s Barbican venue. An Orchestrated Songbook finds the singer/songwriter plucking a number of softer tunes from throughout his career, then turning them over to Jules Buckley to arrange for the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Indeed, it’s simply been a continuation of the pattern that has dominated his work for the past 15 years – nail down an idea, then move on, time after time after time. Two albums – On Sunset and Fat Pop (Volume One) – have kept his creative fires burning, with the English maverick continuing to push ahead. Seek this out it’s truly not to be missed or overlooked.Paul Weller has had a productive lockdown. And even if there was no pandemic, this is a perfect edition to add to his extensive library. That Paul Weller chose to do this, especially in a two-year period of a pandemic where he miraculously released two new studio albums, is a miracle. One of Paul’s bleakest couplings back then, it’s now more thought-provoking and points a way towards self-reevaluation.Įvery song on here every nuance is a wonder. Finally, a favorite of mine from the final year of The Jam (1982’s The Gift), “Carnation” is here and, again, as with the band’s initial offering, this arrangement just heightens the drama, darkness and power of the lyrics. While George’s voice is rougher and deeper than in his heyday, it’s heart-rending – both men put pure emotion into this reading and it will make you FEEL. And a personal favorite, “You’re The Best Thing” (original also from Café Bleu)is here with Paul being joined by Boy George (one of the great soul-oriented singers of the glorious early/mid-‘80’s) – even after all these years, the combination of the two voices is an amazing thing. ![]() There is a lightness and joy in this performance and the details of how I know/remember the song are there, albeit minus the drums, etc. Two more Style Council “classic” moments round off the highlights – “My Ever Changing Moods” (which had two previously recorded versions – the “hit” single and the stripped-down piano rendition from Café Bleu). “English Rose”, from The Jam’s 1978 All Mod Cons, is revisited as a moment of pastoral beauty – and that may be one of the recurring themes of this album – the cinematic majesty of how these songs unfold. His voice is on point the backing singers lift the arrangement to a new height and the musical performance is stellar. A powerful, achingly beautiful song in either permutation, this version is breathtaking. In no particular order, “It’s A Very Deep Sea”, which is a personal favorite from the aforementioned Confessions… album is, for me, THE highlight. Weller has continued to shift directions and push his own musical styles into an all-embracing adventure with each new release, an album of orchestral arrangements from moments of his extensive catalog is the logical next step. It also is fitting that in a career – post Jam and Style Council – where Mr. But it all makes sense now, and the absolute gorgeousness of this album can’t be understated. On May 15th 2021 Paul Weller performed an exceptional concert with. I probably would not have embraced this record in an earlier time I wasn’t intellectually, emotionally or spiritually capable of accepting and understanding the power and beauty of orchestras (never mind that it’s Paul Weller). Paul Weller - An Orchestrated Songbook with Jules Buckley & The BBC Symphony Orchestra. During his Style Council-era, songs like “A Stone’s Throw Away”, “Francoise” and a portion of the Confessions Of A Pop Group album were strong indicators that he would and could do this to a successful degree. However, there are a few pointers that say “yes, this may be a possibility”. If you would have told the “younger me” that my hero/musical influence, Paul Weller, would one day do orchestral arrangements of songs – especially ones from The Jam – I may have laughed cynically or, at least, doubtfully.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |