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Jarvis Showcases New Rock Songs
Dean Samways , July 15th, 2008 16:14

Jarvis Cocker

Britpop hero and Quietus guest writer Jarvis Cocker has revealed that he will be roadtesting new material during a short US tour this week.

Speaking to BBC 6 Music today the former Pulp frontman also gave details of his first album since the acclaimed 2006 solo debut and its heavier sound.

“I have been working and I have been writing. I’m doing three shows in America in July where I’m gonna try a lot of new stuff out. I’ll see if I survive that, then I’ll try and get it recorded as soon as possible really.

“I probably won’t get it out this year being realistic. But I’d like to get it out as soon as possible. But I’m afraid I will kill again. There will be another record.”

Elaborating on the new material further, the Artery fan spoke of the more wholesome band sound that will be incorporated into the follow-up to Jarvis.

“It’s hard to say as it’s not all done yet but I think it’ll probably be louder than the last one. The thing was, I wrote that record over a period of time and enlisted the help of Steve [Mackey – bass] and Ross [Orton – drums] and Richard [Hawley – guitar] to help me record it. Then went out and played it, and discovered I had a band that could rock.

“That really made me think. I’d never really had that before. Pulp could be loud, but we didn’t really rock…. Well, maybe occasionally. So what I’ve tried to do with the new stuff, rather than me just sit there and wait for inspiration to come at some point – which takes ages – instead we’ve written stuff together. And it’s a bit louder.

“It’s probably something to do with some kind of midlife crisis as well, y’know? Rock while to still have the ability to do it before your bits start falling off.”

May the testing commence, hopefully with Jarvis’ Cocker full intact. His US tour dates are as follows:

  • 19th July - Pitchfork Music Festival, Union Park Chicago
  • 21st July - Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn
  • 22nd July - Terminal 5, New York

For a live version of Cocker’s ‘Fat Children’ head below: