A delight that will be warmly embraced by Jarvis fans, Beyond the Pale comprises seven beautifully crafted songs, laced with wry observations on life.
Joining Cocker in Jarv Is are Serafina Steer (harp, keyboards), Emma Smith (violin, guitar), Andrew McKinney (bass), Jason Buckle (synths) and Adam Betts (drums). Jarvis’s lyrics are as memorable as ever.
The surging Must I Evolve? with “Dragging my knuckles listening to Frankie Knuckles. Someone has lost their drugs in the long grass. Cars pass by. And the occasional badger” is a natural evolution from Different Class.
Am I Missing Something? contains the most Jarvis of all lines: “I don’t want to dance with the devil. But do you mind if I tap my foot?” House Music All Night Long is the standout. A clever intro with a nod to CeCe Rogers’ Someday, it’s a love song about someone home alone while their lover is out raving: “Saturday night cabin fever in house nation. This is one nation under a roof. Ain’t that the truth?”
An accomplished, and very welcome, return.
