Let England Shake

Polly Jean Harvey released her eighth album on Valentine's Day - which was partly recorded in a church in her home county of Dorset. Harvey has shifted from White Chalk's gaunt piano ballads to a broader sound that is no less feverish and close to the bone. Imagine a minimalist take on her debut album Dry's folk-blues tilt, all urgent and wiry rhythm. It's recorded mostly live with multi-instrumental support from the long-serving John Parrish and (former bad seed) Mick Harvey. But there are subtle additions; the signature horse 'n' hounds bugle leading the hunt is woven into a shifty The glorious land, the Bulgarian Women's choral wail on the otherwise skeletal England.