The second half of Weller's opus starts with 'Push it along', which as the title suggests, chugs along like a Weller (ahem) jam should... However, the chorus breaks into 60's garage territory - the 60's nod continuing with the psychedelic 'A Dream Reprise' - a crescendo of backwards guitar... Next is the Noel Gallagher cast-off 'Echoes round the sun' - a two note riff that Noel couldn't do anything with (he's never had a problem in the past!) Weller just about rescues it with a solid if rather unadventurous vocal and a nice descending string part in the chorus...
A real surprise is next with 'One Bright Star' - set to a tango rhythmn and very dramatic it is too... Instrumental 'Lullaby fur Kinder' follows - all tinkling piano and romantic strings like something from an old Hollywood movie... The piano theme continues into 'Where'er ye go' - Weller's 'Danny Boy' for want of a better description... The spoken word 'God' is next featuring Aziz Ibrahim from The Stone Roses - some thought provoking words but Aziz's Mancunian delivery is a little flat... '111' is an extraordinary piece of ambient music - changing from pastoral to an almost György Ligeti-like scream in places...
'Sea spray' returns to the folky acoustics that started the collection and the cycle is completed with 'Night Lights' - another Drake-like effort that sounds like 'Introduction' from 'Bryter Layter'... Finally, long-time collaborator Brendan Lynch mixes 'Rip the pages up' and very groovy it is too - full of the usual Lynch effects, clicks and bleeps...
A remarkable LP! Believe the hype - this is Weller's best since 'Wild Wood'...
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