The second solo album of Jarvis Cocker , ex frontman of the group that has composed some of the major pop singles of all decades, is released officially by Rough Trade on May 18. The production belongs to Steve Albini , known from the work of the Pixies , Nirvana, Sonic Youth , Big Black etc. It is therefore expected to be more rock, less pop and is quite different from the previous, "Jarvis" . The meeting - starting point of cooperation with Steve Albini took place last year when, during the Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago, Jarvis and the band wanted to «work» a few new songs.Jarvis however argues that the change in tone is because of the opportunity given to members of the group to participate in the composition of songs. By the way, the presence of 45 year old Jarvis with the typical glasses that keep on "growing" bigger, brings back pleasant memories. Furthermore we look forward to seeing him again in this year's Ejekt, after the excellent show of the Pulp in the summer of 1998 in a concert held in Freattyda, Peiraias.
Further Complications, which opens the homonymous disc is likely the second single, and Angela, dedicated to a 23 year old who provides for 4,15 £ unspeakable services, already released as first single , prepare us for the switch from the sound that we are used to. Pilchard is instrumental and Jarvis is involved only in cries. Leftovers , as well as the I never said I was deep for which Jarvis is said to state that he wishes that this sentence to will be written on his grave, could be songs from any album of Pulp. Listening to the introduction of large Homewrecker ! with the saxophone of Steve Mackay one would probably would want to hear the voice of Mick Jagger and the song seems to come out of the Exile on Main st . Hold still is perhaps the only weak moment of the disc. In Fuckingsong and Caucasian Blu
es - in that the lyrics describe the pain as a Honda Goldwing has run out of fuel - Steve Albini has rather put his hand in it, Jarvis sounds very angry as another Johnny Rotten. Further Complications ends with two of the best songs of his career: the Slush, written somewhere at sea on the west coast of Greenland and almost 9 minutes long You ' re in my eyes ( Discosong ) where Jarvis sometimes shows his love to Isaac Hayes and sometimes refers to F.E.E.L.E.I.N.G. C.A.L.L.E.D. L.O.V.E. from Different Class .
In conclusion, Further Complications is an album that will be passionately loved by the fans of Pulp - if they could have done otherwise - and will be heard with quite positive feelings from those who are friends to the harder American sound! For the rest , why not ...
7,5 / 10
