‘Slow Jam’ – Pulp

Mandy writes:

Even as I write this first sentence, I have to confess a bias – Mercury Prize or no Mercury Prize, ‘More’ by Pulp is already my album of the year.

Tracks such as ‘Spike Island’ and ‘Tina’ have been recurring earworms over the summer as the band have made their return – still eccentric, still acerbic, still holding up an ironic, insightful and sometimes wistful mirror to the world.

Last time round, in the 90s Britpop era, Pulp soared with epic public singalong anthems such as ‘Common People’ and ‘Disco 2000’ before developing interesting but less commercially successful material.

Returning now, older and perhaps wiser, More is a wry reflection on middle age, changed perspectives, lost loves and the realisation that there is still potential for joy and surprise. Life can be just as much about having a conversation with Jesus as it is about jumping around in a field or shopping for groceries.

Because there it is on ‘Slow Jam’. Jarvis and Jesus, Jesus and Jarvis, the Son of God and the man who wiggled his bum at Michael Jackson at the Brit Awards, having a tete-a-tete.

The context appears to be a reflection on a failing relationship – “slow death, that’s what our love has turned into”….

Pondering difficulties, an imaginary conversation with Jesus unfolds:

“Jesus said, “I feel your pain
God knows I share it too
Slow death
Now you know just what I, what I went through”

It’s a mini exploration of crucifixion and the idea of free will – you can’t make someone love you – and in this version, Jesus is remarkably resigned: 

“So how about we talk about something new?
Because there’s not a great deal that I can do”

It’s a song of yearning, a prayer of sorts, a plea that a slow death should instead be a slow jam – a more romantic, meaningful vibe than what is obviously playing out.

And then a twist:

Here comes the Holy Trinity
Behold the crown of all creation
Come on, let’s have a threesome, baby
You, me, and my imagination

As much as this could be read and understood in different ways – physically, emotionally, spiritually – I find this take intriguing.

What is going on in Jarvis’ head here, and is he onto something? How are creativity and imagination expressed in our relationships with each other and in the world? How are human relationships life-giving and sustaining, and what do we do when they’re not? How do sex, love and spirituality hold together?

The NME called this whole album ‘wonky pop’ and it’s a definition that fits. But maybe sometimes it is in the sideways glance, the wonky aside, that we see glimpses of something different, unexpected insights that makes us realise something more is at work. 

And not just more, but More.

Find out about Pulp and their tour at https://welovepulp.info/