the evening, it becomes clear that her
voice is very much an instrument and she uses it to full
effect; it’s so powerful, despite how tiny she is.
The songs sound fresh and vital, as she
totally gets into it, acting out all the emotions. The
song is bluesy and sultry, and, with her diva-like voice
rising
and falling in free flow, it’s mesmerising. She runs,
then sort of totters about before kneeling at the edge
of the stage head down.
From time to time, she played guitar herself
and whilst it did sound sexy, one song also sounded sweet – a
sound full of longing and despair. She looked like a little
girl lost and it was genuinely moving; it was almost heart
rending, as you felt pulled into it like an intimate secret
was being revealed. Not for long though, the provocative
blues return with an angular number that proves that Harvey
can stalk the stage with the appearance of a pro – she
really knows how to work a stage. She can also work a crowd
as well and they cheer at the provocative movements.
Halfway through the next song, I realise
that there is no pretension at all at a PJ Harvey gig; she
puts so much emotion into it, it’s now that it feels
like you’re being taken into her confidence. The song
is eerie but so gorgeous at the time it almost makes me cry.
It doesn’t seem to matter that there isn’t much
between-song banter (Harvey actually seems a bit shy tonight).
A couple of songs after ‘Good Fortune’,
we’re treated to a solo performance from Harvey – just
Polly and her guitar – and you can hear a pin drop,
there’s not a sound from the audience as she builds
and drops away. It’s truly electrifying. It’s
the lull before the storm, the next song is spiky and punky
as she sits by the drum kit and shakes her head wildly. That
woman really knows how to stalk a stage though.
It’s by the encore that things
get a bit on the repetitive side, and I start getting the
feeling I’ve seen it all before. After the first
song of the encore, which is a song of two halves, the
whole sultry and provocative mood is back, as one of the
songs, off of the new record, is ‘The Letter’.
After that, she gives a little wave and then they’re
gone. There’s a long wait and anticipation grows
and grows in the air, before Harvey and the other guitarist
come out and give us the highlight of the night: an acoustic
cover of ‘Where’s Your Mama Gone?’. So
beautiful, it was heartbreaking. It was something of a
mixed set, but it was excellent entertainment for all that.
http://www.pjharvey.net
Natasha Perry
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