As previously reported, PJ Harvey is set to release her seventh studio album White Chalk on 24th September.
On Saturday 7/7/7 Polly previewed four new songs at Bridgewater Hall as part of the Manchester International Festival. The tracks performed were 'The Devil', 'White Chalk', 'The Mountain' and 'Silence'. DiS was there and a full review of the astounding solo show will be up later today, but from first impressions we can tell you that the new songs are a much gentler affair than Uh Huh Her.
In fact, live, through just Polly and a piano (although she played guitar, moogs and auto-harp during the rest of the set), they were a little Vespertine-era Bjork and her vocals soared in places like Tim Buckley/Thom Yorke. The album's title track was a bleak depiction of Dorset where she was born'n'bred.
Also we Googled and up came the album's track listing, which runs as follows:
'The Devil'
'Dear Darkness'
'Grow Grow Grow'
'When Under Ether'
'White Chalk'
'Broken Harp'
'Silence'
'To Talk To You'
'The Piano'
'Before Departure'
'The Mountain'
Photo by Richard Topham
pjharvey.net.
DiScuss: were you there on Saturday, what did you think? What's your favourite PJ Harvey song?
I took my girlfriend
who is the PJ Harvey fan, it was my first time seeing her and I was very impressed.
The first 3 songs on guitar were great and I was totally hooked from then on.
I enjoyed her new material on the piano, especially "The Mountain". Her vocals soared and echoed around the Bridgwater Hall very nicely on that one I thought.
Would have been nice if she'd played a bit longer, the set seemed to fly by.
inspiration
one of the reasons I picked up a guitar; and one of the main reasons I keep playing to this day.
One of the best.
x
She is playing
The Royal Festival Hall on the 29/9 and I got all excited.
Then I realised I was in Scotland that week. :(
Yes Dorset is really bleak isn't it
its simply teeming with sink estates. PJ Harvey is good but she seems to copy people in a very succinct way.
And my favourite song by PJ Harvey is 'Dress'
is that a bit dated of me?
No!
Dress is one of my favourites too oh and Sheela-na-gig. Not a big fan of her last two albums but this one sounds rather appealing.
Yes she's totally hit and miss
I lost interested after Rid of Me but there's been the odd song which has been ok.
what on earth are you talking about?
Clearly one of the most consistent artists about. to bring you my love and stories.. are classics. I think I may stalk her
yes
and throw in Is this Desire. That is a brilliant album especially if you have a stereo with good bass. Sounds amazing. Definitely in the 'classic' group for me.
Is this Desire
is probably her most underrated albums. It put people off because it was so scarce instrumentally in places, but lyrically it's up there anything else she's ever done.
I second that
The bit about being consistent anyway - I like Dry best but she's been great ever since regardless. Probably the most deserved winner of the Mercury Prize to date too.
She
never churns out the same thing, she always tries to tweak her music in a slightly different way, and i think she does it well.all her albums have shining moments on, some (like dry and to bring you my love) have more than others. she was superb at the bridgwater hall, my favourite gig of the year, no least for the crowd banter. managed to get a ticket (albiet on my own) for her london gig.very excited about the new album.from what i heard last saturday it seems to have a more simple personal depth (rather that previous albums having on going themes about her relationships with people, rather than her herself) to it. i am really quite excited.
x