Ever Changing Mods

Divisive debut expanded to tell the full story of Weller's post-Jam reinvention, in some style....

- By Terry Staunton

The Style Council Cafe Bleu: Special Edition * Universal 6515728 (6CD, 3LP)

Paul Weller likes to take his time. Although The Style Council made their bow with the single Speak Like A Child just three months after The Jam's swansong Beat Surrender had topped the charts, it would be another full year until his new group brought an entire album to market.

That first 45 was followed by three others before Cafe Bleu arrived, each one an attention-worthy illustration of his and partner-in-crime Mick Talbot's relish in confounding listeners' notions of what the band's overall modus operandi might be. None were especially designed to trailer the eventual LP's contents, apart from perhaps teasing listeners to expect the unexpected.

After those came Cafe Bleu, kicking off with Talbot's 75-second bouncy piano instrumental Mick's Blessing and solo Weller's nod to the jazzier side of John Martyn on The Whole Point Of No Return.