“Why me, why you? Why here, why now?” It is the many, too big questions from the classic “Feeling Calledlove” that pounds on you, while another big act of pulp is spreading in the head. More is the first really convincing record with the participation of Jarvis Cocker since the inglit end of his band in 2002.
More starts with sound where we love life stopped almost a quarter of a century ago. With a rich orchestration, large gestures (“I Exist to do this: Shouting and pointing”, sings cocker) and funky Schlenkern. And maybe Pulp could have continued seamlessly, Britpop would not have been so out at the turn of the millennium – shameful four weeks were granted We Love Life in the British Top 100. Presumably this fact answers the “Why here, why now?” Because right here, right now to quote Oasis, 90s britpop is the Hottest ticket in town again. They all run back to the Gallaghers, also super grass and gene tours.
Unhappy People may spend more, but Happy People tend to want more about what makes them happy
In any case, the material for more would have been largely available for a long time. “Got to have love” was already outlined in 2001, “Grown Ups” existed as a demo for this is hardcore. Six of the remaining nine songs have up to ten years on their hump. Nevertheless, the first eighth album of the band in, Wow, 47 years not like compilation, but certainly like a best-of all of their phases. It combines the spoken-word-heavy 80s of the troop with the indie hits of the 90s and Scott Walker’s string-heavy plush production by WE Love Life.
In addition, Cocker often dances into the past: In the frenetic gospel disco “Got to have love” he spells again Love, in the seductive “Slow Jam” there is a reunion with the old Buddy Jesus Christ. According to “Sorted for Es & Wizz” from 1995, the opener “Spike Island” is already its second song about the legendary one-day festival of the Stone Roses 1990 (27,000 visitors: inside Cocker did not include). Like “Disco 2000”, the following “Tina” is a song about a relationship that never existed. At Deborah, he also complained about “We’d Get Married, and never split up / oh, we never did it, Although i Often Thought of It”, desperately desperately to Tina: “Yes, Tonight I have bee thinking about / scenes from a Marriage that never took place” – and underlines with reference at Ingmar Bergman that he is still the cultural -sophisticated prince in the kingdom of Cool Britannia. And his court poet.
In order not to send new favorite lyrics every minute, you have to reins like: “I know it’s all about the journey / not the final destination / but what if you get travel sick / before you’ve even the station?” From “Grown ups”. Or “The First Rule of Economics? Unhappy People they Spend more” from the Fnalen, the 70s hit “I’m Like to Teach the World to Sing” paraphrasing “A Sunset”. More is everything you could have hoped for from the band’s comeback album. Unhappy People may spend more, but Happy People tend to want more about what makes them happy.
More could be the terrific end of a unique work, a legacy sequel, as perfect as “Mad Max: Fury Road”. But we want to hope that it is only the opening chapter of the next book Jarvis. Rehm wants more! (A) more!
You can find out which albums were published in June 2025 via our monthly publication list.