PJ Harvey: Let England Shake

Label: Vagrant

I wonder whether PJ Harvey’s been listening to freak-folk: On Let England Shake she tries out a variety of vocal tones for characterization, a warped folk-song feeling dominates, autoharp is frequently heard. Then again, she’s on record citing the Pogues as influencing this album, and there’s a Big Concept here that I can’t imagine, say, CocoRosie getting anywhere near: the songs are about wars from World War I to the present, England’s participation in them, and their costs, all delivered in a serious tone (aside, perhaps, from her "Why don't I take my problems to the United Nations?" nod to Eddie Cochran). Don’t worry, these aren’t lectures with musical accompaniment; the music pops and jangles in attractive ways, and each song has a laser-like focus on particulars; she’s not painting with broad brush strokes, and there’s genuine ambivalence at times. As albums go, it’s a deeply moving experience.