Paul Weller

If you've followed Paul's career for any time over the last twenty something years you'll find comfort in familiarity as well as room for growth in As Is Now. Touches of Setting Sons (The Jam), The Style Council, and Wildwood and Stanley Road, from his solo career, sweep through the fourteen tracks. The opening songs, Blink and You'll Miss It, Paper Smile, and Come on Lets Go, are typical punchy Weller-pop, all excitement, mod guitars, and ultra crisp and cool drums (from Britains finest, Steve White).

They give an early indication of Weller in free flowing writing mode. To balance the up strokes there are many tender moments that stretch from the heart wrenching keyboard led drama of Pan, to the folky jazz of The Start of Forever. There's a freedom and maturity in the songs that smack of a writer at total ease in his skin ' someone making music first and foremost for himself. Perhaps this was the aim for the loose grooves of the Style Council after the Jam had run its course in late 1982. The jazz moments of Roll Along Summer demonstrate his natural feel of the genre aided by smart ride and snare work.

His Royal Modness always intended to carve out a long standing career in music rather than a short wave blast of success, and nearly thirty years in the business its safe to say he's achieved his aim. Not only does he continue to grow as a songwriter, musician and singer, there's evidence of a mellowing without losing his edge. Expect this reluctant English Treasure to be cutting quality discs when his peers are drawing their pension.