REVIEW: Weller At The BBC Volume 2

Volume 1 of Weller at the BBC featured an avalanche of stunning sessions tracks, shuddering live concerts and captivating studio live performances taken from Paul Weller’s solid rebirth following the separation of The Style Council. Volume 2 thankfully follows in the same revered vein, featuring the Woking Wonder delving deep into his appetising sounds chiming through divinely hallowed BBC halls, studios and live settings.

Ranging from promotional ventures through 22 Dreams to 66 this is not a collection to turn a blind eye to. Opening with the spine-tingling Gravity, Weller’s voice sounding rich, powerful and full of soul, his backing band supply subtle Beach Boys like harmonies, the timeless nature of this and all of the compositions featured stand up with those artists he idolised who performed in similar settings, no doubt Weller wanting to tread the boards of those who have also graced these iconic arenas finding their own magic, Weller attracts a similar force of ingenuity with his monumental portfolio.

Further highlights include sparsely underutilised Around The Lake gratefully making an appearance from a 6 Music Maide Vale live show, his band in juicy form, maximising Tomorrow Never Knows vibes around a revolving beat, stunning. There’s the rare groove of That Pleasure, Going My Way aching Martha My Dear similarities, When Your Garden’s Overgrown juddering Octopus twin, angelic White Horses with Hannah Peel providing elegance in the form of orchestral backing, anthemic Seeds like White Sky, whilst a closing joyous take of The Zombies Say You Don’t Mind echoes yet more exalted vibrations, this is another illustrious assortment of delicacies for the ears from the illimitable Modfather.

Weller at the BBC Volume 2 can be ordered here