JARVIS COCKER
Further Complications Rough Trade ****

On paper, a collaboration between the noise guitar rock producer Steve Albini and the delicate and informed wordsmith Jarvis Cocker seems unlikely. But on this, Cocker’s second solo album, the result is a giddy mix of controlled chaos and trenchantly acerbic commentary on all manner of contemporary issues.

That first solo album saw Cocker toss off the restricting mantle of Britpop icon and claw back some eccentricity and experimentation. He’s on similar terrain here, but with a bit more of a sonic va-va-voom.

The title track has a fuzzy, rollicking riff over which the singer screams "Your life is just a carrier bag" among other bon mots. This particular sound — ironic indie pop meeting sinewy grunge trash – provides the musical backdrop for most of what is on show here. A more garage rock style sound emerges on Angela, and the rhythm of the music means a change in the lyrics – some of Cocker's meanderings of old are replaced here with smarter and shorter aphorisms.

The album highlight is I Never Said I Was Deep, with its weird jazz-light backing. "I never said I was deep, my lack of knowledge is vast, my horizons are narrow, if you're waiting to find what's going on in my mind, you'll be waiting forever" he croons. The musical set-up of the song suggests that Albini was only too willing to bend his usual studio trickery and play to Cocker's strengths.

The big rock guitar backing (sometimes with an added horn section) continues on the instrumental Pilchardand the beefy Housewrecker. Cocker's voice is brought a bit more to the fore on the skewed piano ballad that is Hold Stilland the mildy disturbing disco-lite of You're In My Eyes.

There's a rawness and urgency about these songs. Cocker seems to be in unsettled mood as he takes swipes at all around him. But the atypical musical approach finds him focused in his anger and sarcasm. There's nothing left of Pulpanymore – he seems, if anything, to be heading into more Elvis Costello territory: switching around musical genres as he sees fit.

On this evidence, Jarvis Cocker has uncovered a rich, new seam – and he’s not afraid to turn it up to 11 when the situation demands. www.my space.com/jarvspace

Download tracks: I Never Said I Was Deep, You're in My Eyes