It’s been 24 years since the last Pulp album, the very good We Love Life from 2001. In between there have been scattered concerts, festival gigs, singer Jarvis Cocker’s solo albums, Russell Senior leaving, and unfortunately the passing of bass player Steve Mackey. Getting the rest of the band back together, Pulp enlisted mega producer James Ford to help in the recording.
First single and track, “Spike Island” explodes out of the speakers where Jarvis sings, “I was born to perform… I exist to do this” – and the listener believes him. “Tina” is a quintessential Pulp song about crushing on a girl but always just missing her, perfect indie pop in the chorus. From there the album goes a bit disco in spots with the house like anthem “Got To Have Love” and the throbbing bass of “Slow Jam”.
The band also includes several slower, midtempo tracks like “Background Noise” that sounds like a holdover from 20 years ago plus the saluting of their Northern home of Sheffield (“The Hymn of the North”) and an ode to the beauty of the sunset (“A Sunset”). It’s a good album that adds in the dance elements from some of Jarvis’ solo work but also sticks to what they do best. Sophisticated pop music that touches on the dark corners in life. That used to be at the club then the bedroom afterwards but now it’s at the “Farmers Market” remembering those younger times instead.
7.5/10
The Light Appears 