PJ Harvey is
challenging and exciting, I may not have
not enjoyed all of the her work (I really struggled with "Let England
Shake"), but I admire her courage and ambition.
The "Stories
from the City, Stories from the Sea" album from 2000 remains my favourite,
and it seems her happiest too (unusual for me). It takes its title from a suite
of songs that were written at her Dorset home and in New York.
The first
single, "Good Fortune" was a good precursor for this album - a giddy whirlwind tour around Manhattan with
a new lover. She feels so joyous, as it seems all their bad luck has evaporated,
and now she has only "good fortune".
It is such an
evocative portrait of New York, with the tall buildings, "In Chinatown / Hungover"
and a delightful walks through "Little Italy". An audio version of
Woody Allen's "Manhattan". She
is totally smitten, gazing into his eyes, and realising her impossible dream of
love has come true.
Even in her ecstasy,
Harvey still seems to snarl, channelling New York's royalty Patti Smith, and you have to love the extended
"looooooooovvvvve" at the end of the chorus, and dying "on the
run again"s.
"Good
Fortune" was recorded mainly in Milton Keynes, with a tight knit band of
just the producers - Rob Ellis on drums
and piano and Mick Harvey on bass and organ (no relation, but a good match, as he
had frequently worked with Nick Cave). PJ
Harvey still plays the lead guitar with plenty of reverb and feedback. Even her
most beautiful moment, there has to be some grit.
Harvey has forged her own unique path, such as
the piano ballads of "White Chalk", autoharp on "Let England
Shake"" and inviting an audience for the " The Hope Six
Demolition Project" sessions. Her sales might not be huge, but she is
critically adored, receiving an unprecedented two Mercury awards.
"Good
Fortune" is far superior to any contemporary love song mustered by Ed
Sheeran or Lewis Capaldi.
Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDBZZ3uvimE
Hear Next -
" Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" remains her most
accessible album.
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