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

Look i have to admit first up that i don't own a PJ Harvey album. Thought i'd get that off my chest. I don't know how i've gone all this time without one. I had 2000's Stories from the city.. on mp3 at some stage and gave that a good flogging until it disappeared in the ether. And i'm familiar with 1993's rid of me but for the most part i'd have to say that i'm not even close to being a PJ harvey expert. What i do know though is that her vocal can range from beautiful and breathy, to a tortured wail, and everywhere in between. A Woman A Man... re-unites Harvey and John Parish who collabarated once before on 1996's Dance Hall at Louse Point ( Music by Parish, Harvey Lyrics and Vocals ) It's an interesting album that spans a various range of influences and styles that both artists have experimented with in their careers. The Opener 'Black Hearted Love' is a cranking sonic youth style angst ridden anti-ballad. 'Sixteen, Fifteen, Fourteen' Melds Middles Eastern style strings with Harvey's on edge semi-shouts. There's traces of Fugazi, The Pretenders, Goldfrapp ( who Parish has also collaborated on ) on the remainder of a well put together album that starts big but fades towards the end. If anything the title track is the biggest let down of the album, Harvey's spoken and ( screams ) vocals seem forced and Parish's dynamic experimentations seem to go too far. But overall its a good start to my PJ Harvey collection.