Very small mention in a very small news article on Suede getting back with Ed Buller to produce some new material (though thankfully they've scrapped all those songs they played live in Russia). The sidebar goes on to say, and I quote, "The revelation came after resurgent Britpop rivals Pulp admitted they were also mulling fresh songs". Ok, not the most earth shattering news in the world but about as good as we're gonna get with recent 'secret machine' that is Pulp.
Apparently the song 'Sabotage' from Russia is still in with a shout.
Brett Anderson stated that of the songs showcased in Russia, only "Sabotage" was thus far in contention. He also stated that the album sounding like, "...probably like some artist on some drug, engaged in a game of quoits with some other artist on another drug. You can adopt your own journalistic cliche if you haven't grown up yet."
Which is a good quote.
This all, however, leads to an important question - were Pulp ever Suede's rivals? I know Suede were close to the Manics at times, and Elastica around the time of the Menace. But obviously not chums with Blur. Yet I know not of Pulp...
Suede occupied a starnge position post-Butler. They were completely written off and embarked on a pretty disasetrous tour of the UK (the one where Brett fell offstage and had to do some shows with a cane). They didn't really emerge until '96 with Coming Up by which time, it could be argued, Pulp were also over. So the two bands always dovetail to me rather than compete.
Could be, or it could be connected to the Voxette tweets from a few weeks ago, Jarvis's six music break and the lack of announcement on the future. I'm telling you, this goes deep... all the way to the president, or something.
Yeah, Mojo don't know any more than Shortlist got out of Jarvis.
Seeing as this thread is more about Suede than Pulp there's a great article in Uncut this month about the making of their debut single, The Drowners - released 20 years ago this month...on the same day as OU I believe. Both joint-singles of the week in one of the music mags at the time I think. So there was the potential for rivalry there with Buller also producing both between '92-'94. The Suede biog Love And Poison (truth and beauty is better for the soul) mentions various group members arguing the merits of then Common People b-side, Underwear.
Better for the soul aye, but it is interesting to imagine Sturdy as a David Barnett figure, but instead of running 'round Camden for Brett's drugs, he's cycling 'round Sheffield for antique glass, charity shop gubbins and exotic nail varnish colours.