Album Review: JARV IS... - Beyond The Pale

It's been a long time between drinks for Jarvis Cocker who stages a comeback this month with his new band JARV IS. The project has derived this album from jams the band has been experimenting with when playing live at festivals. There is a rough and spontaneous vibe to much of this album and in adopting this approach, they attempt to capture the raw spark of inspiration for each of these tunes. Comprised of just seven epic tunes, Cocker seems to have abandoned tight verse and chorus structures and instantly gratifying pop hooks for a looser and seemingly more experimental vibe. Keeping up with the sprawling scope of this album takes a certain amount of concentration.

Save The Whale feels like Cocker’s homage to Leonard Cohen. Meanwhile Must I Evolve? weirdly feels like The B-52s getting philosophical about evolution and 'Summer Of Love' raving. Cocker's erudite lyrical musings are generally droll but this song hilariously features the line, “Dragging my knuckles listening to Frankie Knuckles”. Elsewhere, Sometimes I Am Pharaoh has curious Thin White Duke styling with sax riffs reminiscent of Donny McCaslin. 

The highlights here are tunes like Swanky Modes and House Music All Night Long which feature sophisticated lounge grooves that accompany Cocker’s rambling and rather adult lyrical musings. Beyond The Pale surprises as it defies expectation while Cocker takes fans in somewhat different directions.