Paul Weller Has Almost Finished Work On New Album


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As his recent album ‘Wake Up The Nation‘ is set to learn it’s fate at tonight’s Mercury Music Prize ceremony, Paul Weller has revealed he is already close to completing it’s follow-up.

Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper at Jersey Live!, Weller confirmed he had finished the bulk of the album over the course of four days, and outlined a more pop feel which is dominating the new material. “We’ve done about eight tracks over four days and they sound mega,” he said.

“I would say it’s more pop, but I don’t know how accurate a des­cription that is. It’s different again, another little move on. It’s not about shocking people, it’s just me being a bit more willing to push the boat out and see how far I can go sonically, as a writer and a musician. I don’t want to get stuck into this mind-set of being a certain age and just doing one thing. There’s a big wide-open canvas out there.”

Recent betting activity had made Weller’s album the favourite for this year’s Mercury Music Prize, but the former Jam frontman has previous experience to draw from should he walk home empty-handed tonight, having missed out in 1994 when the judges awarded the accolade to M-People in what is seen as one of the most controversial decisions in the prize’s history. “Urgh, M People,” said Weller on the surprise winners that year. “It didn’t stick in my throat too much because Blur’sParklife‘ was up for it in the same year, so I really didn’t expect to win that one.”

After being 1/10 at one stage last weekend, ‘Wake Up The Nation‘ is now at 7/4 with bookmakers William Hill, behind The xx who remain even favourites. Early front-runner Dizzee Rascal has now slipped out to 50/1.


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