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Paul Weller's Album Buzz!

Paul Weller has admitted he is excited about releasing his new album, Wake Up The Nation, out on 12 April.

Guests on the 16-track record include My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields, Bruce Foxton, and ELO man Bev Bevan and members of The Tornados and Little Barrie

"We’re all buzzing about this record and hopefully other people will be as well but unfortunately you never know," he told 6 Music’s Andrew Collins.

Weller was joined by his former bandmate Bruce Foxton, best remembered as the bassist in The Jam, who disbanded in 2002, and Stiff Little Fingers.

He told us how they came to get back in the studio together: "A bit of dialogue opened up between us two, just through various other personal things that have gone on in our lives, but it just sort of felt right.

"Because of the fact that we had started talking and were in touch and that, I thought it was an honour to have us getting together to make a bit of music, which always levels everyone out really."

Weller admitted the process was swift and enjoyable: "It was a nice day, we had fun. We had a laugh and it was nice and easy, there wasn’t too much pressure on anyone I don’t think.It just sort of felt right. Because of the fact that we had started talking and were in touch and that."

He also enlisted the help of Kevin Shields from the noisy rock band My Bloody Valentine. After meeting him at the odd awards bash, Weller told us of Shields’ appeal: "I like what he does and it’s very leftfield and different from what a lot of other people do. It’s just very different from what I do and I just liked the idea of putting those two things together."

Meanwhile, Bev Bevan, formerly of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra, has drummed on two tracks, Wake Up The Nation and the opening track Moonshine.

Its first taster is a double A-side single, with the title track and another called No Tears To Cry. Speaking about the latter, Weller explained it has elements of the Burt Bacharach, who wrote for Dusty Springfield, in it.

"We were thinking just along the lines of the old Dusty records and Walker Brothers - those grand, melodramatic arrangements and stuff, so there’s kind of a hint of that in there as well really," he said.

The Modfather will be performing at the NME Awards on Wednesday (24 Feb) where he will pick up the Godlike Genius award. He said he appreciates the recognition of being 'Godlike': "It’s a bit tongue in cheek anyway but I’m very flattered to be off with it."

This award comes three years after he was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Brit Award, and just a year after he was named Best Male Solo Artist at the 2009 Brits.

"There’s life in the old dog yet," remarked Weller.

From BBC6 Music

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