Paul Weller Shares ‘Cosmic Fringes,’ a Flashy Music Video Previewing His New Album ‘Fat Pop (Volume 1)’ Out 5/14

Paul Weller felt especially motivated in 2020, even after a global pandemic forced the cancellation of his planned tour dates in support of his prolific career and latest album, On Sunset — so much so that he made another one.

Fat Pop (Volume 1) is the result of that inspiration, the fleshing-out of song ideas he had on his phone that compelled Weller to record them alone, with just vocals, piano, and guitar. The new album is due on May 14, and Weller debuted a flashy music video for “Cosmic Fringes” on Thursday as a preview:

More on the album, per a news release:

With many ideas for new songs stored on his phone, Paul started to record them on his own with just vocals, piano, and guitar which he’d send to his core band members (drummer Ben Gordelier, Steve Cradock on guitar, and bassist Andy Crofts) to add their parts. Despite it being strange not being together, it kept the wheels rolling and sanity prevailing. The band reconvened at Weller’s Black Barn studio in Surrey when restrictions were lifted to finish the work with the shape of the album becoming clear to all.

Paul Weller is no stranger to featuring a number of special guest musicians on his albums, and Fat Pop (Volume 1) is no exception:

As ever, Fat Pop, sees a number of guests contributing including Lia Metcalfe, the young Liverpudlian singer with The Mysterines who combines her tremendous vocal as well as a songwriting credit to True. Andy Fairweather Low adds his distinctive vocals to superfly strutting “Testify” and Paul’s daughter Leah co-wrote and features on the classic 3-minute pop kitchen sink drama “Shades Of Blue” which will be the first single taken from the album. Hannah Peel is back in the fray adding her classic string scores to “Cobweb Connections” and “Still Glides The Stream.”

The album’s track listing:

Cosmic Fringes
True
Fat Pop
Shades of Blue
Glad Times
Cobweb/Connections
Testify
That Pleasure
Failed
Moving Canvas
In Better Times
Still Glides the Stream

For more, click here to read Jeff Slate’s 2020 interview with Paul Weller, discussing live in pandemic isolation and more.