7/10

Ever since we all first saw the skeletal rump-shaker known as Jarvis Cocker croon his way into our hearts with his distinct vocal performance and outlandish stage presence, he has consistently remained one of the most beloved names on our musical landscape. As both a tastemaker on national radio and as the frontman of Pulp, he has influenced and inspired so many people with his unique take on modern British music. And after a few years away from the studio, he returns with the new project JARV IS..., a sort of solo endeavour that uses his name but sees him at the helm of a larger idea.

From the very start of this new collection, it feels that Jarvis Cocker has begun to see himself as more of a David Byrne character, creating this rich and diverse musical landscape which is less about the hooks and memorable moments of the record, and more focused around the charisma that he injects into everything he does. While he is obviously the namesake behind JARV IS..., his place on this album is constantly reinforced through a strong and intense personality where he sits front and centre to reel off one provocative prose after another, giving the release an extremely progressive and forward-thinking aesthetic.

But what this new project does more than anything is look to separate Jarvis Cocker from his formative outfit Pulp. While they were obviously the more adventurous name in the Britpop scene, they were still rigidly bound to that sound. What 'Beyond The Pale' does is see him experiment more with an eclectic range of genres and direction, giving it a more distinct intention that shows he is far from over the hill in his career.