Pulp Returns After 24 Years with New Album and Releases Video for Latest Track “Spike Island”
Pulp Returns: Britpop Legends Set to Release More After Two Decades
In a move that’s sending ripples of excitement through the music world, Britpop stalwarts Pulp are making a triumphant return with their first album in 24 years. Titled More, the new record, set to be released on June 6 via Rough Trade Records, marks Pulp’s first studio effort since 2001’s We Love Life. Celebrated for their sharp lyrical commentary and pioneering sound, Jarvis Cocker and company once again find themselves at a cultural crossroads, breathing new life into an era of music that many thought was firmly in the rearview mirror.
The album was birthed in a whirlwind three-week session at London’s Orbb Studio, helmed by producer James Ford. Cocker described the recording process as brisk yet electric, asserting, “This is the shortest amount of time a Pulp album has ever taken to record. It was obviously ready to happen.” The urgency of the project is palpable, a reflection of both the band’s storied past and their hunger for new creative expression.
The lead single, “Spike Island,” dropped alongside the announcement, showcasing Pulp’s uncanny ability to merge nostalgia with zeitgeist awareness. The music video, crafted by Cocker himself, dives into the intersections of artificial intelligence and the human experience. In a statement, he elaborated on his process, which involved feeding Rankin & Donald’s iconic photographs from their 1995 album Different Class into an A.I. app. Cocker recalls, “The weekend I began work on the video was a strange time: I went out of the house & kept expecting weird transformations of the surrounding environment due to the images the computer had been generating.” His exploration of A.I.’s creative potential resonates deeply in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, and the resulting visuals promise to offer both a trip down memory lane and a provocative look at the future.
More isn’t just a solo endeavor; the album features contributions from notable names like Richard Hawley and Jason Buckle, who each provided music for one track. Cocker has also revealed that the Eno family lends their talents with backing vocals on another track, while Richard Jones arranged strings for the Elysian Collective to perform. This collaborative spirit echoes the ethos of Pulp’s earlier work, reminding us of why they have remained influential figures in the indie-pop scene for decades.
Reflecting on the journey back into the studio, Cocker revealed how the spark was ignited during their 2023 tour. After soundchecking a new song titled “Hymn of the North,” the band felt rejuvenated, leading to an outpouring of new material in the first half of 2024. “A couple are revivals of ideas from last century,” he noted, hinting at an album that seamlessly melds the old with the new.
Pulp’s return is more than a comeback; it’s a celebration of their enduring legacy and relevance in a contemporary music climate that is as fragmented as it is rich. As audiences prepare for More, the anticipation builds not just for the music itself, but for the stories that will unfold through the lens of a band that has always danced along the edges of art and angst.
In a world that feels increasingly chaotic, Cocker’s parting words on the album—“H.I. Forever!”—seem to encapsulate a yearning for connection, creativity, and the enduring power of music. With More, Pulp is poised not just to revisit their past but to redefine their place in the future.
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