Polly Jean Harvey had done it again. It was ten years ago since she won the Mercury Music prize with 'Stories from the city, stories from the sea'. As she said on accepting her award, a lot has happened since she witnessed the tragic events of 9/11 from her hotel room. Now she has triumphed again with Let England Shake. There was some strong female competition from the likes of Adele, Katy B and Anna Calvi (who was produced by Rob Ellis who has collaborated previously with PJ Harvey). The judges made an excellent choice this year awarding the artist who has produced the best creative album, rather than the most commercial or obscure artist. Anyone remember Speech De Belle?
The first time I listened to this album PJ Harvey's voice sounded totally different from her previously deeper voice. She reminds me of David Bowie as she is a chameleon like artist, changing her image as well as her music with each album she makes over her 20 years of making some great records. She just improves with each album.
Let England Shake is like modern war poetry. It combines social commentary about England's role in war - particularly the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and echoey guitars and instruments like the autoharp and samples for example military like bugles (The words that maketh murder). Or calls to prayer amongst others. The words that maketh murder even managed to reference Eddie Cochran with the lines 'Why don't you take your problem to the united nation's'. Glorius Land describes the waste of life in England's wars:-
The first time I listened to this album PJ Harvey's voice sounded totally different from her previously deeper voice. She reminds me of David Bowie as she is a chameleon like artist, changing her image as well as her music with each album she makes over her 20 years of making some great records. She just improves with each album.
Let England Shake is like modern war poetry. It combines social commentary about England's role in war - particularly the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and echoey guitars and instruments like the autoharp and samples for example military like bugles (The words that maketh murder). Or calls to prayer amongst others. The words that maketh murder even managed to reference Eddie Cochran with the lines 'Why don't you take your problem to the united nation's'. Glorius Land describes the waste of life in England's wars:-
'How is our glorious country ploughed?
Not by iron ploughs
Our lands is ploughed by tanks and feet,
Feet Marching'
Not by iron ploughs
Our lands is ploughed by tanks and feet,
Feet Marching'
Last living Rose is a beautiful ironic song which manages to convey a love of England but also a feeling of loss or betrayal:-
to the music of drunken beatings,
past the Thames River, glistening like gold
hastily sold for nothing'.
One of my favourite tracks is towards the end a reggaefied beautiful song called 'written on the forehead'. This references the Gulf War with burning oil and the recurring chorus Let it burn, let it burn'. This is a classic album of 2011 and a worthy winner of this years Mercury Music Prize. Go out and buy it or download these tracks:-
'Let England Shake', 'Last Living Rose', Glorius Land'
and The Words that maketh murder'.
and The Words that maketh murder'.
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