Description
Label Review.
Originally released in 1992 on a rare edition of her debut album. Also available on CD.
Our Overview.
British singer/songwriter PJ Harvey’s first album ‘Dry’ is approaching 30 years old and her singular approach to her art has kept her dedicated fanbase rabid for new product over the course of her career especially as new albums come fairly infrequently. Although previously released, the demos of the songs she recorded in preparation for ‘Dry’ from 1992 are perhaps the most sought after releases of her catalogue. When that album was first released a limited number of CD’s had the demos tacked onto the end of the album while a special double vinyl edition had those recordings on the second disc. Copies of both versions have changed hands for over £200!
Now, those demos are being treated to a proper release for the first time with new artwork and unseen photographs taken by her official snapper Maria Mochnacz. Harvey said of her debut album: “‘Dry’ is the first chance I ever had to make a record and I thought it would be my last. So, I put everything I had into it. It was a very extreme record. It was a great joy for me to be able to make it. I never thought I’d have that opportunity, so I felt like I had to get everything on it as well as I possibly could, because it was probably my only chance. It felt very extreme for that reason.”
The finished album was fairly raw in its production and emotion played with her then band of Rob Ellis on drums and Steve Vaughan on bass while the demos feature Polly on her own with her guitar for company. The recordings show that the songs arrangements were pretty much in place and wouldn’t need too much work to lay down with the band. Of the reasons behind her raw approach she later said: “I’m somebody who looks for something that’s going to shock or excite me; that really shakes me up in some way inside, so you have to stop and really take a look at what you’re feeling and why you’re feeling it. And nothing was doing that for me. So I had to do it for myself.”
Tracklisting: Oh My Lover / O Stella / Dress / Victory / Happy And Bleeding / Sheela-Na-Gig / Hair / Joe / Plants And Rags / Fountain / Water