Pulp have always been in the wrong place at the wrong time

Pulp, the legendary band fronted by Jarvis Cocker, have revealed that they’ve signed a new recording deal with equally legendary independent label Rough Trade. Although they formed in Sheffield in 1978, when Cocker was 15, Pulp’s biggest success – and it was very big – came in the second half of the 1990s, with smash hit singles such as ‘Common People’ and ‘Disco 2000’, and albums including ‘His ‘N’ Hers’ and ‘Different Class’. They broke up in 2002 but have reformed, on and off, for celebratory live appearances since 2011. But the Rough Trade deal is the first sign of new songs for 22 years. Pulp are back. This is very good news.

Nostalgia and remembrance of one’s teens – what is now called ‘catalogue’ by the labels – powers a large part of the pop music industry. But Pulp are a lot more than that.