Staff Reviews

Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications

Review by Robert Ferguson

The news that Jarvis Cocker’s new album was to be produced by Steve Albini was definitely one of those moments that prick the inte»

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pulp hero jarvis cocker releases second solo collection 'further complications' on rough trade. it was produced by steve albini. the two met while the former pulp frontman was in chicago for last year's pitchfork music festival; jarvis paid a visit to albini's electrical audio studio to put some new songs through their paces. the experience (and the price: 'very cheap') was perfect, and thus a partnership was born. the title track howls albini immediately, with a crookedly ascending fuzz riff pounded into hard angles by a driving, almost tribal, backbeat. the hidden influence of stevie wonder shines through like sleazy dance funk until a wide-open breakdown drives the tune home. 'angela' is a nice little piece of freakbeat sweetmeat and the first hook to get lodged into the frontal lobe, for better or worse. the instrumental 'pilchard' starts out like sinister sci-fi surf with an electropulse before settling in to something a little brighter, a little more psychedelic; jarvis hisses, pops and 'oooohhs' in a way that would make marc bolan proud. the record really begins to coalesce around the six-minute soulburner 'leftovers' though, equally the most memorable and most sentimental cut on the whole album.
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