It's weird, but all of the worst aspects of PJ Harvey's work are what bring her the grandest accolades. Last time out with To Bring You My Love she caught the Stooges' rhythmic pummel but reduced herself in scale by falling back on bogus Nick Cave bible imagery and lame blues cliches; then she got patted on the back for making such progress.
Harvey's greatest artistic shift since firing the band has been delving deeper into the technological reserves with producer Flood. Should she ever completely abandon the drums/bass/guitar fixation that grounds many a flight she might have a chance at the artistic grandeur she seeks. "The Wind," with its cooing whispers and early-'80s orchestra-synth, is a welcome repositioning. "Angelene," "Catherine," and "Electric Light" are wispy mood pieces that befit an artist who's maturing. "The Garden" uses a sexless, neurotic Joy Division drum pattern. "The River," though, is useless and exactly the type of junior high imagery from which Harvey should be forever banned. Is this an improvement? Depends where you're starting from pal.
