Tonight’s Sonic Journey Back in Time #05
PJ Harvey, Down by the Water
I remember hearing this song on the radio when I was like 8. Her whisper gave me this really dark rush like I’d done something wrong. Remember when music was that powerful? Like it could totally alter you. It’s a shame that dulls.
And THIS ONE. OMG. In Boston she played the same venue - Avalon - for Rid of Me and then To Bring You My Love. Rid of Me was the more intense show. She and her band were all raw energy, anger, sexuality and an almost intense loathing of the audience. I had never seen anything like it. It’s still one of the most pure, raw, feminist albums I’ve ever heard.
Then, less two years later, she slinks out onto the same stage in that silky red dress from this video and starts doing that little fish big fish dance while the band has grown up from relentless touring and is more menacing, subdued and grinding. Polly’s all skin and bones and lips and angular and tall and the whole thing just scares you right to death. So good. So good.
Somewhere I have this 6 foot long poster of Polly that came with the 12” single that came with the C’Mon Billy 12”. I might have to find that and hang it up in the secret clubhouse.
