PJ Harvey and John Parish - A Woman A Man Walked By

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4...according to our Phil on Thu 26 Mar, 2009.

PJ Harvey is back with a brand new album with John Parish. This is their second album together with joint billing and it's called 'A Woman A Man Walked By'. I won't go on about the discussion in the office when it was played originally but it had something to do with PJ Harvey and the entire staff of Norman Records and (possibly) a donkey. Needless to say we've all moved on from that now and normality can resume. I've always had a soft spot for PJ ever since Sheela Na Gig came out and I went to see her at the Duchess in Leeds all those years ago. I think over the years she's done some good albums and some not so good albums. I'm onto my second listen with this one now and I think it's gonna fall into the good category. It's quite a mixed bag really as the styles are reasonably experimental for her and less poppy than normal.... And it's quite all over the shop. On this album she ditchs the piano of White Chalk and moves into a more rocky discordant territory which I suspect has something to do with the guitar playing of El Parish. There's some weirdness on the album with her singing about chicken liver balls and proclaiming she wants your fucking ass. She's back sounding like a proper angry woman again which is nice to hear. The album is full of light and dark moments and it possibly feels a bit bitty. That is I'm not entirely sure how well it all gels together as a piece of work but I think the songs are good on the whole and that's enough for me. Plus there's an amazing picture of John Parish on the back of the sleeve where he looks like an owl doing an impersonation of Sting. Nice!

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A new collaboration from PJ Harvey and John Parish is set to be released on March 30th, 2009 through Island Records. Entitled “A Woman A Man Walked By”, the album was recorded in Bristol and Dorset, and mixed by Flood. The album has been described by journalist, John Harris, as “…mischievous, deadly serious, elegant and poetic, and possessed of a brutal power – it is doubtful that you will hear a record as brimming with creative brio and musical invention this year…” “A Woman A Man Walked By” is a follow up to Harvey and Parish’s previous collaboration “Dance Hall at Louse Point” (1996). John Parish co-produced “To Bring You My Love” (1995) and also PJ Harvey’s most recent release “White Chalk” (2007). An accomplished producer and composer, John has recorded numerous soundtracks and has worked with artists including Eels and Giant Sand. The album will be available on CD and Deluxe LP (gatefold, heavy vinyl, exclusive poster and insert with a unique code which allows the purchaser of the vinyl to download the album as well) PJ Harvey and John Parish will be are embarking on a UK tour this April and May. First single from the album will be Black Hearted Love

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