September 21st, 2007
PJ Harvey - White Chalk
PJ HARVEY
White Chalk
Island
****
Polly Jean Harvey knows a thing or two about reinvention. This is, after all, a woman who went from no make-up and underarm hair to drag-glam make-up and a sequinned Stars and Stripes bra. The cover of White Chalk is yet another incarnation, but this time it’s all virginal restraint and angelic sulkiness. Clad in white and eerily echoing a Victorian death photo, PJ is the opposite of her modern assertive self.
The composed, quiet pose is the first inkling to what lies on the album. The gorgon-like fury of previous work is gone, and Harvey’s trademark guttural angst has been replaced by a falsetto whisper. Even more surprising is the near absence of her distinctive guitar licks. They creep in occasionally, but only to tiptoe around in the background while piano and strings take charge.
For all the sweet vocals and understated melodies, a gothic cloud hovers over White Chalk; these are sugar-coated fairytales with a dark centre. In the title song she confides: “Scratch my palms, there’s blood on my hands”. ‘Grow Grow Grow’ is full of burial imagery, while the single ‘While Under Ether’ conjures up personal tragedy in an austere hospital setting.
With longtime producer Flood again at the helm, Harvey is joined by legendary drummer Jim “Dirty Three” White, whose less-is-more shuffles are perfectly judged.
White Chalk will be called haunting, sparse, beautiful, but above all it’s an unexpected experiment from a supreme talent. Some fans won’t like it - there are no sharp edges, no splintering feedback. As her album output nears double figures, Harvey proves that even in her more ethereal moments, her prerogative is never to conform and by the end, we’re captivated.
What remains, after ‘Mountain’ closes things, is an eerie epic, a musical memento mori and one of the finest albums Harvey has made.
Website: http://www.pjharvey.net
Download Tracks: ‘The Devil’, ‘When Under Ether’, ‘Silence’
This review originally appeared here, in The Ticket, The Irish Times on Friday, September 21st, 2007
September 21st, 2007 at 10:52 am
Nice review Sinead. I’ve been expecting something different from Polly Jean after seeing her restrained set at Electric Picnic last year.
Welcome back, by the way. You’ve been missed.
September 21st, 2007 at 11:44 am
Hee, I was actually just wondering about this album and when your review would be out! I prefer pared-down-electric-4-track-Demos PJ to noodly-Is-This-Desire PJ, so I wasn’t sure whether I’d like this one or not, but the few songs I’ve heard so far are pretty great, so maybe I will.
Are you going to Feist next week, by the way?
September 21st, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Usually when musicians go off in a mad new direction, it can be either pretentious shite or something that doesn’t work at all. I’ve heard The Devil and it’s really spooky, in a good way, so I’m keen to hear the whole thing.
September 21st, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Jim, thanks so much. It appears that a chunk of that set was this album.
Stellanova, I know you’re a diehard PJ fan, so I think you’ll really like this - even without the electrics.
Yes indeed I’m going to Feist, can’t wait for it. It’s sold I believe.
Dave, spooky, eerie, ethereal - all good words to sum up this album. Every time I listen to it I like it more.
September 24th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
I’m fairly similar to Stellanova- a long term fan, but never came around to Uh Huh Her. After reading your review I’m looking forward to checking out the new CD. Hell, I think I’m going to slip out and buy it now. (Lovely blog by the way- I’ve just come across it.)
September 26th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Red, thanks so much for your comment, report back and let me know your verdict on PJ.
September 29th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Great review - just bought this album myself. Have to say, I do slightly miss the guttural angst and splintering feedback. I’ll give it a few listens before I judge it though.
October 1st, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I’ve given the album a week of solid listening and have to say it just doesn’t work for me (yet). I can admire its beauty and its fragility but it doesn’t get under my skin the way her previous albums used to.
October 1st, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Thanks for the comment. You described the album perfectly in your review, I am disappointed not to love it but at the same time I think it’ll win PJ some new fans and convince them that she’s not all angst and anger.
I’ve just bought myself Feist’s album following your review of her tripod gig, and I’m liking it a lot already.