“And if I could though, I would refrigerate this moment” was the exact feeling I had when Jarvis Cocker spoke those words on the ultra-mellow track, Slush, from Cocker’s new album, Further Complications. The indie legend has always had the gift of transforming his sound while always still being true to himself. A Jarvis Cocker song always sounds like a Jarvis Cocker song, but the sounds are never the same it seems, it’s quite amazing feat throughout a career as long as Cocker’s. He is himself, usually a love it or hate it type of guy and so is his music it either grabs you or it doesn’t. For those that are on the fence then I would hope that the man’s songwriting ability would lead over to fandom. His words are mature, clever, and very well crafted with a great delivery.

On Cocker’s last album, there was a heavy synth influence that was very polished and subdued. He spoke a lot more on that album about anything and every and made the entire album entertaining for me. With Further Complications he has that great lyricism back on songs like Angela and Caucasian Blues, but he has chosen to give a much more raw, lo-fi guitar sound. He has dropped the synths for his guitar and created something that goes from pop to ambient to glam to punk. He starts the album being playful to giving a sound that just gets angrier and angrier till he’s screaming at the top of his lungs towards the end. The album’s producer, Steve Albini from Nirvana and Pixies fame I’m sure brought a lot of Cocker’s rougher side out on this record.

When Cocker’s solo record, Jarvis, came out I have to be honest I was very lukewarm about it. Then one day I was on a road trip and let the album just play  and enjoy it and after that it became one of my favorites, you know one of those play it everyday, five times a day, kind of albums. Oddly enough, I was on a road trip this weekend and allowed Further Complications to play without interruptions and the exact same thing happened. I haven’t had this music for even a week yet and I’ve already played through this album at least ten times. There are few musicians out there right now who have intelligence and maturity  and know how to take those traits and make them attractive musical qualities. Further Complications delivers a wit and charm that I wish I could see more.

Listen to:

Angela

Slush