Jarvis Cocker has announced his first batch of new music since 2009; a new 7″ EP, Likely Stories, for a May 27th release date. The music was written for the UK SkyArts TV series of the same name, which is based on stories from the legendary novelist Neil Gaiman. The show is presented by directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard and its source material is four Gaiman stories. The show airs in the United Kingdom on May 26, a day before the release of the Cocker EP.

Cocker worked with a bevy of musicians to complete the four tracks included on the EP, including members of Portishead, Melt Yourself Down and Scott Walker’s band. He describes the new set of tunes as “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.” Needless to say, this description should appeal to a wide audience, and presumably suit the new TV series to a tee.

Check out the theme song for the TV series below:

As mentioned, this is Cocker’s first new music since 2009, which saw the release of the Further Complications LP. Prior that release, he had just released one other LP, a self-titled effort in 2006. He is of course best known as the frontman for Britpop greats Pulp, who released seven LPs over the course of the 80s, 90s and 00s. The band was formed by Cocker in the late 70s, but they are best known for their work during the early 90s when the Britpop movement was at its peak. The band broke up in the early 00s, though a few years ago reunited for a series of concerts but did not release any new music other than a previously-unreleased single “After You.”

The new 7″ EP will be released in physical copies on June 3rd in the U.S. and is available now in the U.K. The digital copy as indicated will be available on the 27th of this months.

Given the infrequency with which Cocker releases new music, fans will definitely want to be checking out this new album. The first episode of the TV show, Likely Stories will be aired on May 26th in the U.K.

Likely Stories:
01. Theme From Likely Stories
02. Foraging
03. Looking For The Girl
04. Poor Babes In The Woods