Pulp have revealed they are “not itching” to make another album, despite their 2025 comeback record ‘More’ being nominated for the Mercury Prize.
The Sheffield greats spoke to NME on the red carpet at the ceremony at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena last night (October 16), where they were shortlisted alongside the likes of CMAT, Wolf Alice, Fontaines D.C., Pa Salieu and the eventual winner Sam Fender.
‘More’ was the first full-length LP from Pulp in 24 years and their first since the death of bassist Steve Mackey in 2023. They performed the lead single ‘Spike Island’ alongside Richard Hawley at the ceremony, which you can watch below, with Jarvis Cocker later noticing that the BBC broadcast appeared to be mistakenly accompanied by subtitles from an episode of Miss Marple.
Drummer Nick Banks and keyboardist Candida Doyle spoke to NME at the event about being nominated for the Mercury Prize again, having taken home the prize for their classic album ‘Different Class’ in 1996.
“It’s always really nice to get on the shortlist, because, you know, a hell of a lot of music gets released every year, so to be picked out as one of the 12 to look at, then that’s really great,” Banks said. “We never expect it, you never do a record saying you’re aiming to get on the shortlist this year or next year.”
When asked if the success of ‘More’ has left them eager to get to work on a follow-up, Doyle responded: “No, we’re not itching. An EP, maybe, or a single. An LP…”
“It’s a big undertaking,” Banks explained. “You have to do all this kind of malarkey.”
They confirmed that a new EP or single is also not currently in the works, before speaking about their recent North American tour, which included two co-headline shows at the Hollywood Bowl with LCD Soundsystem.
“We just did a month in America,” said Banks. “America is sometimes a little late to the party, but they seem to be showing their appreciation.”
On the shows with James Murphy and co., he added: “It was just a good excuse to play the Hollywood Bowl and have a bit of a do.”
The 2025 edition of the Mercury Prize was the first one ever to be held outside of London, something Doyle said she felt was long overdue: “It’s got to be shared, everything can’t be based around London, it’s got to come up north, I’m all for it.”
NME awarded ‘More’ four stars, writing: “Just as Blur did with ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ and Suede have managed on their immaculate run of post-reunion albums, Pulp have retained their original spirit and flair into a statement of middle age without feeling any less vital. As Cocker pines on the cinematic closer ‘A Sunset’, all things end, so just make the most of the time you have. It’s strangely beautiful, now they’re all fully grown.”
NME also spoke to Fontaines D.C. at the ceremony about the “witch hunt” against Kneecap and the police’s handling of Palestine protests, as well as Wolf Alice, who were nominated for a record-equalling fourth time.
Sam Fender was crowned the winner of the 2025 Mercury Prize for his third album, ‘People Watching’. He thanked “very good friends” Fontaines D.C. and CMAT during his acceptance speech, saying that he was in “great company” on the shortlist.
In the winner’s room afterwards, Fender added: “We didn’t think we were going to win anything so I’m still in shock. It’s an absolute honour and it’s amazing it’s happened up here, for the first time outside of London. I think it’s a really important thing that’s happened right now in the music industry – I think it’s great.”