Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications (2020 Remaster) (2020) Hi Res

The pairing of Jarvis Cocker and Steve Albini the producer of this second Cocker solo outing is an interesting one. Though known more for his hard rock sound (Nirvana, The Pixies and The Auteurs), Albini has also helmed LPs by the likes of Low and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. On Further Complications he helps Cocker achieve a neat balance of tough-edged Brit-rock, electro pop and searing soul. Opening with the rattling title track, Cocker swaggers through the buzzing "Angela", the loping, krautrocky instrumental "Pilchard", the energetic, sax-led "Homewrecker!" and the punky "Caucasian Blues". These impressive upbeat missives are offset by wry ballads like "Leftovers" ('I met her in the Museum of Paleontology / and I make no bones about it') and "I Never Said I Was Deep". Mundane tracks like "Fuckingsong" let the album down, but they’re few and far between and in any case redeemed by the wonderful finale "You’re in My Eyes,", a tune that returns us to Pulp’s disco/funk obsessions.