"Modernism: A New Decade" is the fifth and final studio album by The Style Council, marking a shift from their traditional pop sound to deep house music, influenced by the emerging garage music scene. Completed in 1989, the album was rejected by their label, Polydor, which contributed to the band's breakup.
The track "That Spiritual Feeling" was later re-recorded as a B-side for Paul Weller's 1991 solo single "Into Tomorrow." The full album was eventually released in 1998 as part of the box set The Complete Adventures of The Style Council, with a separate release in 2001.
Critically, the album was noted for its embrace of house music, with Weller expressing admiration for the soulful black house sounds emerging from Chicago and New Jersey. However, he distanced himself from the acid house label, preferring East Coast styles. The band released a non-album single, "Promised Land," a gospel-infused cover that further showcased their new direction.
Weller expressed satisfaction with the album, despite some personal reservations about its reception. He noted that the record company disapproved of it, fearing it could jeopardize his career. In hindsight, he acknowledged that the music was perhaps ahead of its time, predicting that he would have moved on to different styles by the time house music gained mainstream popularity.
