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As a founding member of both The Jam and The Style Council, as well as a prolific solo artist, Paul Weller has done much to help shape British rock’n‘roll. Now the songwriter delivers his very first film soundtrack, proving that he is as versatile as he is adventurous.
Jawbone opens with the sprawling twenty-plus-minute soundscape of “Jimmy/Blackout” where ambient sound merges with droning guitar feedback and pulsing electronics, along with baritone strings and a burst of industrial drums. The result sounds like Eno collaborating with Sonic Boom, but when Weller’s husky voice comes in, shades of Scott Walker appear. The rest of the soundtrack is less intense, though no less stunning. There are the absolutely gorgeous folk songs, “The Ballad of Jimmy McCade” and “Bottle,” while the remaining four more experimental tracks concentrate on the core elements that comprised the overture. It’s Paul Weller in a new role, apparently one he was made for.
To step out from one’s comfort zone takes courage; to do it well takes talent. Weller has both. Hopefully, he will grace the scores of many films to come.
