Jarvis is happier without masses

Britpop made Jarvis Cocker one of indie music's biggest stars but he has not had the same level of recent success as his peers.

Disillusioned by fame, Cocker has returned to the alternative scene he left behind when Pulp hit the big time.

Pulp filled the NEC but Cocker's low profile is such that this Academy show to preview songs from his forthcoming album had not sold out.

He refuses to play any Pulp songs but he seemed happier than in the late 1990s, smiling behind his new beard and entertaining the crowd with his droll one-liners.

Despite being firmly into middle age, Jarvis still flies around the stage, limbs flailing like a marionette controlled by a toddler.

The new material may not be as catchy as Pulp's classics, with many covered in guitar feedback, but the likes of Angela and Fat Children showcase his sharp lyrical skills.

Love and lust remain firmly on his mind in the powerful Caucasian Blues and Girls Like It Too.

Other highlights from the 90-minute set included a soulful Black Magic and the triumphant Don't Let Him Waste Your Time, both worthy of Pulp's heyday.

He may no longer pursue stardom but Jarvis is still one of our finest songwriters and live performers.

And if the masses stay away, that would seem to suit him fine.

By Chris Leggett.