April 9th, 2012

‘Be Mine’. No point faffing about here, that is absolutely the song you need to hear today. And the only way that’s going to happen is if you get hold of ‘Boys and Girls’. Sure you could download it, but in this case, that would just be cheating yourself of so, so much more that this record has to offer.

‘Be Mine’ thrusts itself at you as the pinnacle of this record, swinging loose and steady, rolling and flowing and building like a blues explosion, taking a strength and a swagger from that moment when you’ve found the courage in you to tell somebody to simply be yours. …I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with Alabama Shakes, the band with the wrought iron soul..

Paul Weller very rarely has been one to adhere to convention. Whatever venture he has undertaken throughout the years the Modfather has almost invariably pushed his own boundaries and surprised, often outright confounded, fans with his experimental outlook.

Suffice to say, ‘Sonik Kicks’ takes this yet another step further.