It’s All Happening loved their socks, were rapt at the gifts of cheap aftershave, and utterly delighted with the sixth tin of Family Circle biscuits, but this post from Jarvis and the gang has got to top all the presents. The enviably lucky attendees of Pulp’s recent Sheffield homecoming show were were given Christmas cards with a download code for ‘a little present’ which was to be submitted to the band’s website on Christmas Day. Written in Jarvo’s satirical style, fans were instructed not to peak, as that would be ‘naughty.’
After You track was first demoed by the band during the sessions for 2001’s We Love Life, but this version is a new studio recording produced by James Murphy in the last couple of months, during their Coachella gigs. Plans for 2013 include ‘sailing off into the sunset.’ In a recent interview with Q Jarvis Cocker concluded that whilst ‘we’ve played for a while and it’s been really good…you can’t keep doing that forever.’
Until next time, we’ll take After You and be estatically grateful. Ta, guys.

Photo via Bar Italia

Having just had the kind of weekend that won’t see me in years to come wanting ‘to make up for the sobriety of my youth’, I can’t currently identify with the protagonist of Age Anti Age, the new single from the London based quartet The ID, but that doesn’t me loving it.
A track that quivers like a thin blade, and from its opening tremble of a chord conveys a feeling of austere agression.  Combining a tone of menace with a tinge of pity, Age Anti Age is full of delicious tension, stumbling links steadily inclining to a powerful chorus, combined with a growling bass and dark beats.
The production on the record results in the vocals sounding as though they are being enveloped in a pillow case, whereas the intensity of the rawer live delivery ensures that the whole vibe is rather less Interpol meets The Cure and completely The ID. So in summary, download today, and make sure you get to a live show soon.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqckmafXxmI]
Available for free download  from Duchamp Records.
and on iTunes.