PJ Harvey - 4-Track Demos

Island IMCD 170/518 450-2. 1993

It's like a whole different album to Rid Of Me, though it's mostly the same songs. These raw takes show what a true talent she is.

I'm starting to kind of fancy her after all.

PJ Harvey - Rid Of Me

Island CID8002/514 696-2. 1993

Even better than the last.

PJH and Albini are a studio match made in heaven.

PJ Harvey - Dry

Too Pure CD010. 1992

I wish I was feeling a tad more verbose today, as this is outstandingly super. However, I'm not, so may come back to talk about it later.

I'll just say, she has one of the few female voices I really like. (She may also have other voices, but I don't know.)

Just buy it. It's a classic.

Never did fancy her though.

Laurel and Hardy - Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Hallmark 701272. 2002

Plenty of oldey-timey music on here, most of which is very canny, but it's the classics that stand out.

I could listen to Dance of the Cuckoos, Trail of the Lonesome Pine, and Honolulu Baby all day.

But the highlight is the eternally sublime At The Ball, That's All. Understated brilliance, even without the visual delight of watching the pair dancing to it.

House of Pain - Jump Around (single)

XLS43CD. 1993

Tip top hippity hop.

Mark Hollis - Mark Hollis

Polydor 537 688-2. 1998

[ choked silence ]

Recovered.

One of my favourite albums, from one of my favourite artists. Seven years after Talk Talk's magnificent swansong, Laughing Stock, Hollis continued into ever starker, fragmented, melacholic mode and created an album of stripped-down beautiful sadness that gets me every listen.

Being one of the most unique vocalists ever to grace my ears helps, but the guys ability to work with silence is astounding. The bits with sound are pretty good too.

Be kind, and play 'Colour Of Spring' at my funeral. Hopefully on some futursic space-laser-powered sound system, as it'll be 3012.