Pulp Launch Their New Era With Theatrical ‘Spike Island’

Words: Josh Parsonage

Twelve years on from the release of ‘After You’, Pulp are back. And yes, Jarvis Cocker’s witty self-awareness is still gloriously intact.

Pulp have been back on tour since 2023, with fans patiently awaiting any sign of new music. That was until the band announced a new deal with Rough Trade. Now, the Yorkshire pop icons have revealed their eighth album ‘More’ and dropped its rhythmic lead single, ‘Spike Island’. 

‘Spike Island’ stays true to Pulp’s glam-infused DNA, layering sleek synth-textures over their signature pop backbone. Cocker, ever conscious of the absurdity of human behaviour, lays into his own theatrics and public-image in an exploration of performance-culture. 

On the surface level the track is poking fun at fame and self-image, but it runs deeper than this. Jarvis Cocker probes at the fragility of authenticity in an era where the line between performance and reality is blurred to the point of invisibility. As the Sheffield frontman navigates this dilemma, he is acutely self-aware that he is both the protagonist and the critic of his own narrative. Cocker is a natural in this role, and he revels in it: “I was born to perform/It’s a calling/I exist to do this”.

However, he understands the dangers that come with this performative existence: “I was wrestling with my coat hanger, can you guess who won?”. Cocker underscores the struggle between personal identity and the expectations placed upon him, a struggle which he himself is the architect of, highlighting the uncomfortable tension behind fame and performance.

‘Spike Island’ is one of two tracks from ‘More’ that have already featured on the band’s 2023/24 tour setlists. The other being romantic pop anthem ‘Background Noise’, a song that recalls the spirit of classic Pulp hits like ‘Happy Endings’ and ‘Bad Cover Version’.

Pulp’s first album since 2001’s ‘We Love Life’ will be released on June 6^th. The highly anticipated record features Sheffield rock legend and long-time friend of the band, Richard Hawley, alongside production from the phenomenal James Ford. Known for his work with acts like Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines D.C., Blur, and more, Ford’s experience promises to bring a robustness to the album’s sound. 

Pulp said of upcoming LP on social media: “We hope you enjoy the music. It was written & performed by four human beings from the North of England, aided & abetted by five other human beings from various locations on the British Isles. No A.I. was involved during the process.”

They proceeded to confirm that the album is dedicated to Pulp bassist Steve Mackey who sadly passed away in 2023.