First Pictures / Paul Weller: Saturns Pattern deluxe box set

Out yesterday was Paul Weller‘s new album Saturn Pattern and SDE can bring you an exclusive photo gallery of the deluxe box set edition.

As a reminder, this contains a DVD, an expanded CD and a coloured vinyl record, with the last two exclusive to this set. Everything is packaged in an attractive outer box with a unique black variation of the album cover art.

There are three physical items under the lid: a gatefold LP, a poster and a large format booklet. If you’re wondering where the CD and DVD are, they are ‘tucked’ discreetly away in pockets within the left panel of the vinyl gatefold. This is a neat enough solution, although personally I’d have preferred a separate gatefold CD/DVD wallet to enable storage separately from the big box, or at least give the two discs their own outer sleeves. The track listings for all discs are on the back of the gatefold jacket. The DVD is region 0 / NTSC, in case you’re wondering.

The gatefold sleeve has a glossy finish and the exclusive blue vinyl comes with an inner sleeve covered in photographs of Weller in the studio (presumably recording Saturns Pattern). One slight niggle is the included poster has exactly the same image as the inner right gatefold panel – a ‘moody’ (aka miserable) looking PW with vaguely psychedelic black and white background. The blue vinyl record is very nice with some old-school Parlophone black and yellow labels. I didn’t get the scales out but it doesn’t feel like quite as heavy as 180g but it’s probably there or thereabout. They’ve done a good job with the booklet which contains full lyrics, credits and some great photography.

All in all a solid set although I’d say this should really be sub-£30 because many vinyl records come with a CD as standard these days, so under close scrutiny you might wonder if a 30 min DVD and three bonus tracks and the box itself justifies this knocking on the door of £36.

The Saturns Pattern album and box set is out now.

Saturns Pattern Deluxe Box 

• • UK Pre-order: Saturns Pattern *best price
• • USA Pre-order: Saturns Pattern
• • CANADA Pre-order: Saturns Pattern
• • GERMANY Pre-order: Saturns Pattern
• • ITALY Pre-order: Saturns Pattern

Saturns Pattern Deluxe Box 

• • UK Pre-order: Saturns Pattern *best price
• • USA Pre-order: Saturns Pattern
• • CANADA Pre-order: Saturns Pattern
• • GERMANY Pre-order: Saturns Pattern
• • ITALY Pre-order: Saturns Pattern