The Hope Six Demolition Project (Demos)＜限定盤＞

アルバム『The Hope Six Demolition Project』制作時の未公開デモ音源を集めたLP商品。

■LP 180g 限定盤

Years before Trump, Brexit, and the rise of authoritarianism around the world inspired other artists, PJ Harvey was making music about societal issues. While her second album to tackle these concerns, 2016s The Hope Six Demolition Project, wasnt as consistently brilliant as its predecessor, 2011s Let England Shake, it reflected her commitment to embedding herself (and war photographer Seamus Murphy) in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Washington, D.C. to tell its stories. However, The Hope Six Demolition Project: The Demos suggests that something may have been lost in translation when Harvey and her creative team went into the studio. While Let England Shakes songs gained a dignified heft in their polished final form, the early versions of Hope Sixs songs often have a nimble immediacy that heightens their power. Theyre often even more pared-down than the demos for her previous album were; frequently, its just Harvey and her guitar, and fans know how potent that combination is. Her voice and strumming ring out righteously on "The Wheel," "The Community of Hope" and "Near the Memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln," all of which evoke the spirit of 60s protest songs as much as her own early work. Occasionally, as on "Dollar Dollar," Harveys sketches are so sparse that they threaten to float away. More often, though, the simpler approach on The Hope Six Demolition Project: The Demos lets the songs moods and details shine through in ways they didnt on the studio versions. The meditative organ on "River Anacostia" is surprisingly affecting, as is the way the demo of "Chain of Keys" hones in on the songs hypnotic melody. The spontaneity of these sessions suits the journalistic feel of songs as different as "The Ministry of Defence," which feels just as startling here as it does on the final album, and the dreamlike version of "Orange Monkey." While The Hope Six Demolition Project: The Demos is one of Harveys more unfinished-sounding sets of song sketches, sometimes thats for the better -- and, as always, its fascinating to hear her music in its rawest state. ~ Heather Phares