We all know music matters. And to many, one musician has mattered far more than most over the last twenty-five years. Long-term devotees of Mr Paul Weller will be familiar with the drill by now - buy the new album on day of release (which, in the early years used to involve bunking-off school) and rush home to play it, all the while hoping that Weller's songs are as exciting and emotive as ever, that his latest is as good if not better than the last.
Well, thankfully Weller's sixth solo studio album proves that the man still has it 'going on'. Following on from last year's hugely successful acoustic live album 'Days Of Speed' and featuring the guest talents of Noel Gallagher, Stereophonics' Kelly Jones, and Steve Craddock and Damon Minchella of Ocean Colour Scene, 'Illumination' shows that the geezer's fire still rages
In fact the first four tracks here have got to be one of the finest openings to a Weller album ever: the acoustic, summery ode to romantic escape of 'Going Places' - reminiscent of 'Clues'; the exhilarating bluesy rumble of 'A Bullet For Everyone' - a timely caustic pop at the fact that we can afford the weapons to blow the world up many times and yet we can't/won't feed the starving; the Sixties Who-Kinks-'All-Mod-Cons' pastoral pop of 'Leafy Mysteries' and recent Top Ten single 'It's Written In The Stars' - a St Etienne style take on Northern Soul featuring the collaborative nouse of Noonday Underground's Simon Dine.
There's a hugely positive vibe to 'Illumination', a joyous, optimistic, soulful, open and experimental outlook that you'd associate with The Style Council or Weller's first two solo albums. In fact, the minor chord ballad 'Who Brings Joy' - dedicated to daughter Jesamine - the dusky love song 'Now The Night Is Here' and the trippy, Eastern flavoured flutey instrumental 'Spring (At Last)' would not sound out of place on 'Confessions Of A Pop Group' or 'Paul Weller'.
'One x One' is a stand-out track. A darkly hypnotic tune featuring Noel Gallagher (drums and bass) and fellow Oasis member Gem Archer (acoustic guitar) it shoulders a positive lyrical plea to 'share the good around'.
The album dips slightly with the Nilsson-ish 'Bag Man' and the jazzy, Style Council-like keys and gospel harmonies (courtesy of Carleen Anderson and Jocelyn Brown) of 'All Good Books'. However, the last three tracks are simply stunning.
'Call Me No. 5' is a ballsy blues duet with Kelly Jones, 'Standing Out In The Universe' is a huge sounding, soulful call to make a difference in life with nods to Thunderclap Newman's 'Something In The Air' and Weller's own 'Bitterness Rising', and the title track is a stark and tenderly acoustic closer, Weller's vocal performance right up there with the likes of The Jam's 'Ghosts' or the Council's 'Ghosts Of Dachau'.
Yep, Weller fans can once again breathe a sigh of relief, for the man's still got it. Money well spent!
