You have to scroll down a bit past the GBBO frenzy, to near the bottom, for a bit about Jarvis' current Outsider Art thing going on in that London and then:
"And what of the music? My other band, Relaxed Muscle, have probably become a bit too relaxed and are now over but I have a new proper record with piano coming out in the new year.
I was thinking that this new album could include Chilly Gonzales as well, especially as Jarvis made a point to mention "piano".
The description - "proper record with piano" - struck me as having the potential to be quite different from the Likely Stories EP. "proper" perhaps could mean a full-length LP and one unattached to anyone else's project. And (if I'm remembering correctly) the most prominent instruments on the EP were quite a lot of harp, some glass harmonica, and some various synths; so the specific mention of piano brings to mind, for me at least, quite a different sound.
Just my thoughts of course, but I'm betting on either a solo album or possibly a recording of the music Jarvis & Chilly did for their Room 29 project.
I think one of the videos/reports on the Chilly collaboration mentioned a 2017 release which at the time struck me as very specific.
I wish he'd do his own stuff too though if not Pulp. A concept album about a piano in a hotel room and the things it's been witness to might be a stretch over 10+ songs (if that's what it is).
Hoorah! Got to second Andy's wish for things not to be too mellow - a few dreamy soundscapes would be welcome, but hopefully plenty of singing to counter-balance the breathy spoken word lyrics that feel likely (especially after the recent Likely Stories release)
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker has revealed details of a new "multi-media musical entertainment" he has devised with musician Chilly Gonzales.
'Room 29: Jarvis Cocker & Chilly Gonzales' will run at London's Barbican Theatre from March 23-25, 2017 and is described in a press release as "a song-cycle concerning the goings-on in Room 29 of the Château Marmont hotel in Hollywood" featuring "the music of Chilly Gonzales and the words of Jarvis Cocker along with clips from classic Hollywood movies, live dance and audience participation".
Cocker says of the project: "Featuring contributions from film historian David Thomson and the stories of famous former occupants of the room such as Jean Harlow and Howard Hughes, the show will also attempt to unpick the way a heady concoction dreamt up in the immediate vicinity of the hotel went on to intoxicate the entire population of planet Earth. Or, (to quote the sub-title of David Thomsons book The Big Screen): it is also the story of the movies and what they did to us."
"For the duration of one evening the entire audience will be occupants of Room 29. You will be greeted by our concierge and you will be given a key. Sit down, get comfortable it will be our pleasure to serve up a night of entertainment like no other: Room 29 may be a real location in Hollywood, California but it is also a place within each one of us. Through this collection of songs we hope to open the door to that room for all those of you who wish to explore it. Hows that for Room Service?"
Tickets go on sale on Monday, October 10.
In May, Cocker released a 7" EP of music written for the Neil Gaiman TV series Likely Stories.
Jarvis worked on the score for the series with Scott Walker percussionist Alasdair Malloy, Serafina Steer, Bas Jan, Martin Slattery (The Hours, Black Grape) and drummer Tom Skinner (Melt Yourself Down). Portishead's Adrian Utley plays synth on the 'Main Theme'.
He described the music on the EP as: "Four grubby tales set in all night cafes, low rent drinking dens and doctors surgeries. I didn't have to leave my comfort zone for this assignment."
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Oh well, i'l go back to my Pulp / Jarvis sleep. Looks like Jarvis is never gonna make a proper record again
Can I just point out that the NME article says nothing about an album? They've done Room 29 before & I'm sure it'll be quite the night for those who attend, but (purely me speculating of course) I'd think if they were going to also release an album of music from the project, they would've announced that at the same time. So, perhaps we're still in for a third Jarvis solo album. He did say "proper record" & those two words give me hope.
But I absolutely am hoping for some real singing on whatever the new music turns out to be. There was a video of him performing "The Heavy" in Paris the other week & he still sounds excellent.
Even if the album does turn out to be the music from Room 29 I'd be interested in hearing it cos I certainly wasn't at the last show & unless fortune strikes I won't be at the London ones.
But I absolutely am hoping for some real singing on whatever the new music turns out to be. There was a video of him performing "The Heavy" in Paris the other week & he still sounds excellent.
that's the thing. Jarvis still has a lot to offer as a recording and live artist. As good as can be that thing with that other musician, i still would prefer music written by him, not just words. + it's only for Londoners so if you live abroad... then what ? I dont really like collabs anyway, especially when an artist is that good solo.
He's always doubted of his melodic talent but it's there. And 7 + years without a new record seems like a waste of time.
I'll be waiting for that record though. But not with the same excitment as with Pulp or his solo records.
-- Edited by andy on Wednesday 5th of October 2016 06:02:28 PM
Monday, October 10. Are we forming a stampede? I miss a good old-fashioned stampede. The night sounds pretty good to me. And I suspect Beewatcher's hope is well placed re: a third solo album.