Paul Weller is not one for standing still. Fresh from the success of the well received ‘66’ in 2024, he returns with his seventh album in the past decade. ‘Find El Dorado’ is his second covers album and, like 2004’s ‘Studio 150’, it offers a breadth of material tied to the make-up of the man.
Selections range from tracks by big hitters such as the Bee Gees and Kinks to cuts by The Guerillas and Bobby Charles, with guest spots from Robert Plant, Noel Gallagher and others helping Weller to sidestep the pitfalls of a half-baked covers record and continue his purple patch.
One of the beauties throughout Weller’s career has been the range of genres he has explored, from the mod-punk of The Jam and soul-influenced pop of The Style Council through to his varied solo output, and often this collection feels like his way of weaving these disparate threads into a single piece.
Richie Havens’ Handouts In The Rain feels like it could be a Weller original. Largely acoustic, it allows his voice the chance to work well in harmony with Declan O’Rourke. Originally by French group The Guerillas, Lawdy Rolla also feels like a perfect fit, recalling Jumble Queen from ‘66’, his gruff vocals and energy working nicely.
His riff on Brian Protheroe’s Pinball feels like a mature cousin to his work in The Style Council, for example, with more of a jazz sound and prominent saxophone in the mix. Willie Griffin’s Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire, meanwhile, has shades of blues to it, as does Charles’ Small Town Talk, where we get to see the versatility in his vocals.
It’s impressive how easily Weller is able to imprint his recognisable sound on these works, assembling a collection that feels urgent while offering a glimpse into the depths of his musical taste and knowledge. His hot streak continues.
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