Jarvis Cocker wrote songs for UK TV series 'Neil Gaiman's Likely Stories' (listen)

Jarvis Cocker is releasing his first new record since 2009’s Further Complications. It’s an EP titled Likely Stories which features songs he wrote and recorded for a UK television anthology series based on Neil Gaiman short stories. Says Jarvis, “Four grubby tales set in all night cafes, low rent drinking dens and doctor’s surgeries. I didn’t have to leave my comfort zone for this assignment.”

The music for Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories was made with Alasdair Malloy (percussionist to Scott Walker), Serafina Steer, Sarah Anderson, Jenny Moore (collectively known as Bas Jan), Martin Slattery (The Hours, Black Grape) and drummer Tom Skinner (Melt Yourself Down). Adrian Utley (Portishead) lent his expert hand with synth and Swarmatron on the Main Theme (which definitely has a Portishead vibe). You can listen to the full-length version of the Main Theme via Spotify below.

The EP will be out digitally on May 27, and will be out as a vinyl 7″ on June 3 via Rough Trade. Check out the annotated tracklist and cover art, below.

The television series isn’t available in the US at present but you can watch a trailer for it below.

SIDE 1
1: “THEME FROM LIKELY STORIES” – a full-length version of the music heard over the opening titles of each episode. With a beat. & A female choir.
2: “FORAGING” – from the episode “Feeders & Eaters”. An inter-generational love affair goes too far. The lyrics list edible fungi found in the UK.

SIDE 2
1: “LOOKING FOR THE GIRL” – from the episode of the same name. An ageing photographer reveals the unlikely identity of his muse.
2: “POOR BABES IN THE WOODS” – from the episode “Closing Time”. Friends gather in an after hours bar to swap “true” ghost stories. One tale – of an after-school encounter – leads to the unearthing of a dark secret.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtDJJD8eS7M