Posted by kluster on May 13, 2009
The second solo venture by Sheffield's
most enduring pop icon takes a few steps towards sassiness and certainly
many leagues from the times where he was loving life in Pulp. The album
comes in the shadow of Jarvis leaving his French wife of six years and
sees him express some lyrical introspection more akin to the pre-stardom
late eighties output of his former band.
You'd never think it though with the
stomping opening coupling of 'Further Complication' and first single
'Angela', which may make you think our Jarv is savouring his new lease
on life, or at least the ability to observe it unfolding. 'I Never Said
I was Deep' in particular sees the mirror turned inward as Jarvis confesses
to a potential consort "I never said I was deep, I am profoundly
shallow" before admitting "'I'm not looking for a relationship,
just a willing receptacle."
It seems that a grown up Jarvis is
again in a position to explore the longing aspect of love, yet nowadays
the youthful desperation is replaced by a weary, yet still cheeky, acceptance
and understanding the duels fought out on the battlefield of relationships.
In the plainly named 'Fuckingsong' he comes across most primal and bawdy
and slinks even lower for the yearning wanton yelped about in 'Caucasian
Blues'. The album also finally sees Jarvis with the budget and resources
to create a proper 'disco' song in the closer 'You're in My Eyes' (discosong).
This album could almost be seen lyrically
as the sequel to Pulp's His 'n' Hers in terms of Jarvis casting his
acutely attuned and ever observing-eye over the tumultuous terrain of
relationships. I daresay it even approaches the greatness of Different Class, the record
which did follow His 'n' Hers up.
by Andy Ryan
jarvis cocker, further complications