Paul Weller not sure if Noel Gallagher will be on 'avant-garde' new album

Paul Weller has said that his next album will contain some "avant-garde moments", although he's not certain if stand-in drummer Noel Gallagher will make the cut.

The singer-songwriter, who features in this year's NME Cool List, explained that he is pausing from recording to tour, but he should have a follow-up to this year's 'Wake Up The Nation' out early next year.

"I haven't finished the record, I've started it, done eight or nine tracks, maybe a few more than that. It's going the right way, but I don't know when I'll finish it because I'm on tour from now to December," he told NME.

"There's elements of 'Wake Up The Nation' in the sound, but it's moved on again I think. There's a few avant-garde moments, shall I say, some sort of soundscape tracks as well and some pop sounding things as well. It's a mix, really. Just good tunes."

He confirmed that Gallagher had drummed on some of the sessions, but Weller was not sure if he would be on the finished record yet.

"If you're referring to Phil Collins he came down and did a few tracks," he joked. "Nah, Noel just came down as a mate and jammed for a few hours as a mate. Whether he makes the album or not we'll see. He's a very good drummer, people don't realise he's a good all-round musician."

Another new song, "That Dangerous Age":

PAUL WELLER REVEALS DETAILS OF NEW ALBUM & 2012 TOUR

Following on from the huge critical and commercial successes of his last two albums, The Modfather isn’t wasting any time with his next release, telling Q Magazine he expects it to be completed by March and ready for release sometime around August or September.

2008’s ’22 Dreams’ and 2010’s ‘Wake Up The Nation’ were described by many as his best work since his early solo days when he penned modern classics like ‘Wild Wood’ and ‘Stanley Road’ but Weller isn’t taking anything for granted and is continuing to follow the model of his most recent work and incorporating a wide variety of influences and genres into the new album.

As yet untitled, Weller says that despite having only spent 8 days working on the album so far it’s close to being complete and he already has the eleven tracks that will make up the record. He’s also confident there will be a couple of singles; including one they’ve already trialled at live shows.

“There’s one called ‘That Dangerous Age’ that we’ve been playing live that’s a mega tune with a funk edge to it. We did a couple of brand new tracks this week and they both sound like singles to me.”

The album is being co-produced and co-written with Simon Dine (who also worked on 22 Dreams) and Weller describes the album as containing ‘strong, melodic pop, but mixed with electronic elements.’

Weller himself admits he’s hit an unusually prolific spell of writing but insists it’s an organic process saying he didn’t particularly have plans for a new album but once he started a few demos things snowballed from there and now he’s just months away from his 3rd release in 4 years.

When asked about a tour to promote the album he was less committal although suggested he is likely to get back on the road in 2012. ‘Probably next year. I want to get off the merry go round for a while and spend more time with my kids. And I want to record more. I want to do something a bit experimental – proper instrumental soundtrack music for an arty, European film.’

Tracks for the currently untitled album are:

Starlight
That Dangerous Age
The Attic
Be Happy Children
Around The Lake
Paper Chase
Twilight
Sleep Of The Serene
No Need To Be Alone
When Your Garden’s Overgrown
Green

Paul Weller finishes work on new album

Paul Weller has said that he has finished work on his new studio album.

The former Jam man explained that he finished mixing the album last week (beginning March 28), but he didn't know when it was going to come out quite yet.

He told XFM that the album was "all ready to go" and that it would come out "maybe this year, hopefully."

The album will be Weller's follow-up to his 2010 effort 'Wake Up The Nation'.

He'd previously said of the new record: "There's elements of 'Wake Up The Nation' in the sound, but it's moved on again I think. There's a few avant-garde moments, shall I say, some sort of soundscape tracks as well and some pop sounding things as well. It's a mix, really. Just good tunes."

Weller played a gig alongside Beady Eye, Primal Scream and Richard Ashcroft in London on Sunday (April 3) to benefit the victims of the recent Japan disasters.

Here's a brand new track called 'Starlite' in time for the Summer. It's not from the forthcoming album, it's just for NOW! It's part Balearic beat, poetry and psychedelic music. I hope you like it. PWx

Here's "Starlite" (spelled just like that), but Weller says it will only be a single and not on the new album:




(Maybe he should have held this one back for a Style Council reunion album. )

Paul Weller - Sonik Kicks

Paul Weller's new album "Sonik Kicks" will be released in early 2012. Noel Gallagher appears on two tracks (one of which is apparently called 'The Attic'. That's all we know so far.

Paul Weller to release new studio album 'Sonik Kicks' in March 2012



Paul Weller has announced that he will release his 11th solo studio album 'Sonik Kicks' in March next year.

The album will be released on March 26 and contains a total of 14 tracks. It also includes guest appearances from Noel Gallagher and Blur's Graham Coxon. You can hear a track from the album, which is titled 'Around The Lake', by visiting the singer's official website http://www.paulweller.com. The track is also available to be purchased now via iTunes.

The album, which is the follow-up to his critically acclaimed, 2010 album 'Wake Up The Nation', will apparently include "pop art punch with soulful communication, jazzy explorations into psychedelia and dub with razor-sharp melodies, abstract soundscapes with clear-eyed forest-folk".

Weller has also announced two new London shows to promote the album's release. He will headline the UK capital's Roundhouse venue on March 18 and 19, with support from Baxter Dury. Weller will perform 'Sonik Kicks' in full at both shows.

The tracklisting for 'Sonik Kicks' is as follows:

'Green'
'The Attic'
'Kling I Klang'
'Sleep Of The Serene'
'By The Waters'
'That Dangerous Age'
'Study In Blue'
'Dragonfly'
'When Your Garden's Overgrown'
'Around The Lake'
'Twilight'
'Drifters'
'Paperchase'
'Be Happy Children'

Tickets go onsale on Friday (November 25) at 9am (GMT).

Paul Weller: ''Sonik Kicks' will be groundbreaking'



Paul Weller has revealed more about his forthcoming 11th solo studio album 'Sonik Kicks', which is set for release in March next year.

Speaking to NME in a video interview, which you can watch by clicking on the player above, Weller said of the record:


The record, which features guest vocals from Noel Gallagher and Graham Coxon, is the follow-up to his critically acclaimed, 2010 album 'Wake Up The Nation'.

When asked about any pressures from the success of his Mercury-nominated record, Weller replied: "When you get a good reaction to a record, if anything, they inspire me to do better next time. It’s nice to have a bit of recognition or a little pat on the back, because it just makes you think, 'Well, I’m doing something right'."

Paul Weller also quelled any hopes that The Jam might one day reform, telling NME: "Personally, I’m not one for nostalgia. What’s gone is gone. You can’t recapture that time."