Sheffield‘s pop heroes (1978–2002, 2011–2013, 2022–present), led by
charismatic frontman Jarvis Cocker released their 8th album More
early this month.
Last weekend the band was one of the headliners at Glastonbury Festival
in the UK. The LP’s toptier hit single Spike Island was, as expected, part of the
set.
“I was born to perform
It’s a calling
I exist to do this
Shouting and pointing”
Sheffield‘s guitar-pop heroes PULP released, between 1983 and 2002, seven
good-to-superb albums, with the breakthrough one Different Class, turning
30 next October, as their magnum opus. It spawned their two biggest hits with Common People and Disco 2000.
Afterward the band went on a long hiatus, used by
charismatic vocalist/songwriter Jarvis Cocker to start
some solo projects.
They reunited for 2 years (2011-2013), to play some huge
big money concerts, went away again and are doing the
reunion game again since 2022.
And today they released their first album in 24 years with MORE.
Cocker:“When we started touring again in 2023, we practiced a new song called “Hymn of the North” during soundchecks and eventually played it at the end of our second night at Sheffield Arena. This seemed to open the floodgates: we came up with the rest of the songs on this album during the first half of 2024. A couple are revivals of ideas from last century. The music for one song was written by Richard Hawley. The music for another was written by Jason Buckle. The Eno family sing backing vocals on a song. There are string arrangements written by Richard Jones and played by the Elysian Collective.
We hope you enjoy the music. It was written and performed by four human beings from the
North of England, aided and abetted by five other human beings from various locations in
the British Isles. No A.I. was involved during the process.
This album is dedicated to Steve Mackey (note: the band’s
longtime bassist who passed away 2 years ago, only aged 56).
This is the best that we can do. Thanks for listening.”
NME: “Drenched in synths and strings and aided by producer James Ford’s knack for making the music feel alive and omnipresent, ‘More’ is everything you’d want a Pulp album to be, made richer from some lived experience. Just as Blur did with ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ and Suede have managed on their immaculate run of post-reunion albums, Pulp have retained their original spirit and flair into a statement of middle age without feeling any less vital.
As Cocker pines on the cinematic closer ‘A Sunset’, all things end, so just make the most of the time you have. It’s strangely beautiful, now they’re all fully grown.”
Press photo
TUTV: More is Pulp‘s big brother/sister of their triumphant 1995 Britpop LP Different Class. It sounds more balanced, displaying first and foremost Jarvis
Cocker‘s
5-star songwriting skills.
Except for singles Spike Island and Got To Have Love you’ll find less euphoric tunes
(like classic crackers Common People and Disco 2000) here, than on DC, but more
impassioned daily-life-inspired musings/reveries (Grow Ups / My Sex / Background
Noise and the magnific closer A Sunset).
Yes, Jarvis Cocker is 30 years older (61 now), but it doesn’t affect
his passion for writing/performing powerful heart-and-soul music.
Sheffield‘s guitar-pop heroes PULP released between 1983 and 2002, seven
good-to-superb albums, with the breakthrough one Different Class, turning
30 next October, as their magnum opus. It spawned their two biggest hits with Common People and Disco 2000.
Afterward the band went on a long hiatus, used by
charismatic vocalist/songwriter Jarvis Cocker to start
some solo projects.
They reunited for 2 years (2011-2013), to play some huge
big money concerts, went away again and are doing the
reunion game again since 2022.
A couple of weeks ago the news cam in that they have canned their
first LP in 24 years. It’s named MORE and will be shared with the world
on June 6th.
Cocker: “Love is a word I was unable to say until I was approaching 40. I listened to love songs all the time but couldn’t use the word in real life. The words to this song are me having a word with myself about this state of affairs. I gave myself a real talking-to. I have now learnt how to say it whilst keeping a straight face. “
Following the ridiculously catchy lead single Spike Island
we get a second taster. GOT TO HAVE LOVE is an equally
infectious pop gem.
Although PULP were around for some years, actually since 1983,
before Britpop happened the English press presented them as one
of the inventors of it.
They released their triumphant 5th LP Different Class in 1995. It featured their
biggest hit (so far). COMMON PEOPLE is a 24-Carat gold masterstroke. It came
out today 30 years ago, on 22 May 1995. It peaked at #2 in the UK.
TUTV: Post-punk aggression at its Mclusky‘s sharp-biting best,
gas-powered by a cast iron bass/drum tandem, schizo guitars
and Falkous‘s intimidating sneering.
“‘Politics on the Internet’ is about caring for yourself enough not to engage in the beast battle
all the time. You can talk to your brothers, parents, and friends. Prioritize your family and fight locally. Flinging verbal excrement at a screen isn’t the way. Love yourself, love others. Love, sex, being strong through kindness, the weight of political turmoil and technology on what is human in humanity.”
TUTV: Blimey. This pyrotechnics juggernaut has a knockout vehemence
that floors you in 150 seconds. To hell with shitty politics on the Internet,
these motherrockers are the real riff-raging deal.
Artist: MARK STEWART Who: One of the most adventurous/inventive/original post-punk & dub artists/performers
ever. He was a founding member of genre-bending new wave group The Pop Group and released lots of solo and collaborative records. Unfortunately, he passed away 2 years ago,
only 62.
Track: MEMORY OF YOU
First shared taster from Stewart‘s solo album The Fateful Symmetry,
that was completed early 2023, not long before his passing.
TUTV: Haunting, synth-symphonic and boom-tastic
with Mark‘s characteristically energetic voice on top.
Band: THE NEW EVES Who: Must hear/see indies from Brighton (where everybody is in a band).
They cruise from folk to punk, using, besides traditional instruments (guitar,
bass and drums) also cello, flute, violin, and other classical gear.
It’s a darkly-energised, female-first retelling of
writer/poet Alfred Noyes classic 1906 romantic
poem.
TUTV: These four musical mavericks don’t care about rock ‘n’ roll rules. Only 4 singles in, and it’s clear they do what they want, the way they want, annex unseen visual presence on stage and in video clips. On Highwayman they rattle and brattle full speed ahead motorized by restless drum/bass teamwork.
Here and there the tune, goes, eh, out of tune, and it sounds totally perfect for this emotional belter. No arty farty production for TNE. Winder-Lind‘s awesomely agitated vocals put a spell on you. Pure present-day punk. I want more.
The accompanying, eye-catching video is quite special too.
Band: WHOLES Who: A fresh, rowdy hit team led by Belgian, musical chameleon Wolf Vanwymeersch,
who played with several bands (pop, rock, sludge metal) and released a pure singer-songwriter pearl with solo debut album The Early Years back in 2022. Wholes are what remains after a soul has been detonated, what struck those around it, what could no longer be contained.
TUTV: Stoner rock dynamics and spiky garage blues disturbance work together to inject your eager ears with doom and gloom disturbance. Like dark clouds predicting a storm, like demons challenging each other, eye to eye, face to face. Wolf’s near-whispering, Josh Homme-esque vocals complete the ominous sonic picture.
Band: ARCADE FIRE Who: The famous pop-rock
collective from Canada.
Track:YEAR OF THE SNAKE
First single from their forthcoming 7th album, named Pink Elephant ready for release on May 9th. 2025 is
the ‘year of the snake‘ in the Chinese Zodiac.
TUTV: It’s a sublime, crystalline pop pearl, with its hypnotizing guitar riff, the non-stop
banging drum beat and the intertwined, spellbinding vocals of Win Butler and his spouse Régine Chassagne.
Artist:ANDY BELL Who: Best known as vocalist of British synth-pop duo Erasure with
former Depeche Mode/Yazoo keyboardist/songwriter Vince Clarke.
Track: HEART’S A LIAR
Newest single from his upcoming 3rd solo album Ten Crows,
which lands this Friday, on May 2nd. It features Blondie icon Debbie Harry.
TUTV: Two glamourous voices, one glamourous disco
tune. It’s a fervid break-up pop gem to fill dance floors
with.
Artist: LIFE COACH Who: The musical project of singer-songwriter-poet Jamie Cameron. Hailing from
the Scottish Borders, the music blends lo-fi beats, synths and guitars with spoken word lyrics in which he discusses subjects ranging from politics and premonitions to self help culture, and a modern society obsessed with economic thinking.
Track: SQUADDIES IN HAIR NETS
Piece taken from the upcoming 2nd album, named ‘A Love Letter To Your Yearning Heart’, which is due for
release on May 30th.
TUTV: Life Coach are on fire, again. This new rattling rap ‘n’ punk roll crackerjack
swings you forth and back, left and right and Jamie Cameron’s adrenalizing word-flow
energizes all of your insatiable limbs before he relaxes towards the synthy end. Another kinetic kick. Hands up for the coach.
Tim Baker (founder and creative director): “The best of what we do in one song,
it’s a tune that really carries the soul of everything good we have stood for over the
last ten years”.
TUTV: Expect electrifying energy from the kick-off. Delirious guitars set the haywire tone and hyperventilating vocals augment the buzzing fuzz. A modern-day post-punk roller coaster.
TUTV: Only two singles in, and it’s already clear that Salvia‘s songwriting skills,
and her impressive vocal performance will bring her musical journey pretty far.
You And Me is an entrancing jam with a rotating guitar riff that gets under your skin
from start to finish. Salvia‘s seductive vocals match the trancy vibe perfectly well.
Today Ghent, next week Belgium, next month the world.
Artists: peach I melba Who: Queer femme indie duo,
half Brighton and half Los Angeles.
Track: WORST TRIMESTER
With blistering lyrics delivered at a rapped pace, the riot grrrl duo
explore the gender politics of pregnancy, in their style of both members
singing every word together over minimalist bass guitar and driving drums.
TUTV: There’s good news and bad news. Bad news first? World peace is an illusion.
From the moment Adam & Eve fucked up, shit started to happen and dirty wars are
still fought, its part of human nature.
The good news? These two DIY Amazons swear to release a new song every six weeks until world peace has been fully achieved. So, we’re ready for a looooong wild and rough ride, starting with this fun, outspoken and catchy 100% indie thrill. Don’t miss their bus, all you music junkies out there.
TUTV: Frontwoman Hannah Vandenbussche‘s voice is the heartbeat of this fresh
act, composed of experienced musicians. With Shadow they released their 4th single.
A spellbinding and haunting piece of captivating music, moving around a bewitching
guitar riff. Tension in the air throughout. Compelling tune. Sugarbunny is going places.
Band: LEDHER BLUE Who: The product of two distinctively different individuals, Zé and Pedro,
that the waves of life comically decided to beach in a northern town of Portugal – Guimarães.
Track: CRAIC
Piece from their brand new, excellent debut
album, titled Fait Divers. Stream it here
TUTV: What starts as a both moody and amplified reflection, explodes
on the let’s all sing together chorus, like if this cracking anthem was recorded
at a Premier League football game. It sticks after one spin. Score!
TUTV: When I just say that my excited ears hear jangly Parquet Courts echoes, you already should get excited too. The sharp-edged riffage, explosive eruptions now and then, and fidgety vocals will drive your mind and stereo mad.
Band: VIRGINS Who: Belfast-based shoegaze band who transcend that reductive tag to deliver a noise which is thrillingly loud and weightily light. Last year they released their notable debut album nothing hurt and everything was beautiful.
TUTV: Heavenly melodiousness, edged layers of shoegazing guitars, forceful
drumming, crystalline vocals, and a non-stop bass riff pushing the pace
throughout combine for a breathtaking score.
TUTV: From the first chord on Donat takes you on a head-twisting and power-driven
trip. No brakes, no breaks. Always pedal to the metal. Raise your voice and absorb
this flat-out ripper. Bingo.
TUTV: Never a dull guitar-pop moment with this seasoned Swedish combo. This lazy tune, for lazy days is one that Scottish melancholic heroes Teenage Fanclub would be proud of. It feels as if Spring invites you to have a feel-good Summer.
Pulp have canned their first album in 24 years. It’s titled MORE and
will be shared with the world on June 6th. Lead single Spike Island
is a pure Pulp pop pearl.
Ideal time for an exclusive MOJO interview with the band’s general Jarvis Cocker about the past, the present and the near future.
Other features include Pink Floyd; Nick Drake; Sparks; Thom Yorke; Irma Thomas; Dire Straits; Peter Murphy; Small Faces; Billy Nomates; Chip Taylor; Viagra Boys; Hüsker Dü; The Blockheads and more.
This month’s Free CD is named Pulp: 40 Odd Years with live, rare and unreleased tracks from the vast expanse of their career, 1982 to 2025, curated by Cocker and Co. Features killer versions of Common People, Babies, Sheffield: Sex City, His ’N’ Hers, The Trees and more!
You can purchase this new Mojo issue and let it be sent to your home. Info HERE.
Sheffield‘s guitar-pop heroes PULP released, between 1983 and 2002, seven
good-to-superb albums, with the breakthrough one Different Class, turning
30 next October, as their magnum opus. It spawned their two biggest hits with Common People and Disco 2000.
Along with that unexpected announcement came lead single Spike Island. A vintage, mid-tempo, pop thrill with a grandiose
chorus.
They performed it recently on The Jonathan Ross Show.
Daily noise that streams faster than a stream of caffeine
12 April 2025
New album artwork
Sheffield‘s guitar-pop heroes PULP released between 1983 and 2002, seven
good-to-superb albums, with the breakthrough one Different Class, turning
30 next October, as their magnum opus. It spawned their two biggest hits with Common People and Disco 2000.
Afterward the band went on a long hiatus, used by
charismatic vocalist/songwriter Jarvis Cocker to start
some solo projects.
They reunited for 2 years (2011-2013), to play some huge
big money concerts, went away again and are doing the
reunion game again since 2022.
And now the surprising news. Pulp have canned their first LP
in 24 years. It’s named MORE and will be shared with the world
on June 6th.
Along with the unexpected announcement comes lead single SPIKE ISLAND. A vintage, mid-tempo, pop thrill with a grandiose
chorus.
