Customer Reviews

Cafe Bleu

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the seventies and eighties a number of innovative and interesting bands emerged from England. The Style Council was one that grabbed a fair amount of attention in independent circles here in Australia while never really breaking out into mainstream in the U.S. Paul Weller and Mick Talbot deserved better(that's Paul on the right of the album cover, Mick on the left.) This album would be their best.

Style Council are impossible to pigeonhole. The best description is that it is undeniably popular music that has a uncluttered sound and a feel that is sometimes jazz and sometimes R & B. Over production is definitely not a problem for Style Council, the music is clean and clear.

The album opens with an excellent pop piano instrumental written and performed by Talbot. The rest of the tracks have Paul Weller on lead vocals and his vocal style is a little laid back and jazzy. My favourite track would be "You're The Best Thing" - a marvellous romantic track.

A wonderful CD! If you like cafe jazz on a rainy spring day, or pop music done in a classic manner, then this is for you. The Style Council were a British band which never gained the popularity they deserved in the USA. I would guess that it was because they were so difficult to box into a category. Paul Wellar's lyrics and the band's music, including some great instramental numbers, are all done in a creative and cutting edge style. The disc sounds as fresh today as when I first heard it in 1985!! A great CD from an underrated group of very talented musicians.

Here is a great Brittish pop CD from the '80s that avoided the "new wave" cliche and stands as an excellent CD today. The sound has more of an early R & B flavor, with a touch of gospel and jazz. The songs transistion wonderfully from one to the next; most songs skillfuly create "mood" - The keyboard work on "Mick's Blessing" gets your head bobbing, the hauning vocals of Tracey Thorne (Every thing But the Girl)on Paris Match stirs the sadness of a break-up, and "You're the Best Thing" is the sort of song you wish you had for your first dance at your wedding. Depending on your mood, your favorite song could be any song on the CD. Just play the whole CD whenever you have guests over, and watch their reactions to the songs.

Like a man on a role (or "men," because one must give the Talbot Keyboard Man his due, yeah?) like the dancer who can hear the music, like a clued-in Jazz newbie, like the indomitable force that Youth is - there's a reason they send the young to War - The Style Council simply couldn't miss with this album.

Enthusiasm will be served and Weller and Talbot pulled off that rarest of tricks - they took their own effete musical snobbery and self-confidence, music they'd written to please above all themselves, and pleased everyone else.

It couldn't hurt that Weller's name alone assured a fair hearing; nor could the Strength of the Weller name, virtually a brand identity of the time, hurt, but the music thus delivered exceeds all expectations. Superb playing, singing and arrangements. Hate jazz? You'll like this. Hate Soul? You won't? Even the rap tune, generally adjudged 'silly,' is better than 9/10's of what is being put out today and years ahead of the curve. No bad tunes, many great, the rest- VERY, very good indeed.

One guy (with potent sidekick) with a private vision, is often just a fool. When the vision is of this quality, you miss it at your peril. The egomaniac dreamer, lost in his private and Ever Changing Moods returns on your 'sound' investment. In spades. Check it.

The Style Council started out as a pop band working within an R&B vein, with Paul Weller taking care of vocals, strings and songwriting and Mick Talbot on keyboards. It was clear that Weller weclomed a break from the punk stylings of The Jam. The Style Council effectively broke that mold.

But, after some initial singles, such as 1983's scathing "Money Go Round," the Style Council launched "My Ever Changing Moods," an album of daring uniqueness. You just cannot classify the album at all -- it contains the soul of "You're the Best Thing," the ragtime piano riffs of "Mick's Blessings," the calypso beat of "Me Ship Came In!" in which Weller lets loose on the fretboard of his guitar, the introspective guitar and vocals only "The Whole Point of No Return," the elevator muzak of "Blue Cafe," the silly rap of "A Gospel," the barnhouse stomping folk of "Here's One that Got Away," the new wave pop of "Strength of your Nature," and the freestyle brass jazz of "Dropping Bombs on the White House."

The high point of the album is no doubt Everything But the Girl's guest appearance on the song "The Paris Match," with Tracey Thorn's vocals ruefully remembering a lost love in perfect timing with Ben Watt's guitar. It is a jazz ballad that ends on an eerie note (literally), much like the end chord of the Beatle's "A Day in the Life."

When I first got this album in 1984 in the U.S., it was titled "My Ever Changing Moods," and contained the pop version of the title track complete with wa-wa electric guitar solo from Weller. But on "Cafe Bleu," the version of "My Ever Changing Moods" is solely piano and vocals. Weller's singing is great, but it lacks the punch and delivery of the version that I remember. This is my only critique of "Cafe Bleu." I preferred the differently sequenced "My Ever Changing Moods" LP.

But, it's no matter. The Style Council are at peak form here, despite the impossible-to-characterize nature of the LP. Hence, the real reason behind the original title of "My Ever Changing Moods."

I consider this album to what Sinatra would have done had been recording in the mod-hip 1980's. It has his pinache, and style. This is not to say his songs sound anything like this, but the mood is similar to what Frank, or even the Dorrs captured in the 60's. A sound that defines the decade. A little of everything, and all well done. At least 10 years before its time, with some classic ballads that can stand the test of time in any generation.

My Ever Changing Moods, is one of the best songs ever written. I like the slow piano/voice edition v. the pop 12" US mix.

this is a great album, i used to have it on vinyl. unfortunately all the cd versions don't have the original "my ever changing moods", which was my favorite song. some songs are punchy, but there are great jazz songs also which are some of my other favorites.

In this album ,Paul WELLER showed how deep he loved SOUL MUSIC.Many British artsts show their enthsusiasm for BLACK MUSIC.This trend was apparent in the 80s,say CULTURE CLUB,ABC,etc.... PAUL WELLER still had a radical attitude,that is THE MODS WAY OF LIFE.The beat is still aggressive and the vice is sweet,and gentle.I think this album is a MODS STYLE with a touch of SOUL.Also,this album proves that many British musicians show respect to the SOUL MUSIC.

This CD is fantastic - I first had it in album form, and have now rediscovered it. It just takes you away. I wish I could put it better - it's one of my all time favorites.

It's 2005 and I still enjoy listening to every single song on this CD. A wonderfully diverse set of songs ranging in styles and themes. A must for a sunny day with a couple of cigarettes and some strong coffee. Long live the Cappuccino Kid.