Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes
http://thequietus.com/articles/21584-fr ... ms?page=14
PJ Harvey – The Hope Six Demolition Project
I think The Hope Six Demolition Project and Let England Shake are this two pronged attack which is utterly perfect, entirely relevant and so important to be releasing this late into her career. I'd listened to Let England Shake a lot, and I felt PJ Harvey had changed so drastically with that record, and The Hope Six follows on from that so beautifully. I remember hearing 'The Ministry of Defence' and calling Dean [Richardson, Rattlesnakes guitarist] saying, 'Have you heard the new PJ Harvey? How are we going to release our album now? She's written a dirtier record than we could ever do.'
It's amazing to see someone with that history in music release something that relevant, here's an artist who's so deep into her career and I think it's one of the greatest records she's made. She's definitely an inspiration; I think any artist writing at the minute would be foolish to not include some of the tragedies we're witnessing in the world. As artists we have a platform and a responsibility to talk about things that matter. They matter to me and they clearly matter to her as well. I find it incredibly frustrating that [more artists aren't addressing issues]. Either say something important or fuck off, essentially.
Someone said a long time ago that stupidity was more of a problem than evil. Evil can be fought against, it can be revealed to be what it is, you can see it and name it and rally against it. Stupidity is much more dangerous because it allows evil to grow and breed and become the norm; you can't reason with a stupid person. I think when I see bands that aren't writing about anything important or releasing music that has no importance to them, I'm not trying to be overly political with my new record, it's a record about human relationships, but it was important for me to include [some political themes] because it's what's surrounded me for the last couple of years. We'll see who's got the courage.
James Johnston
http://thequietus.com/articles/21327-ja ... ds?page=11
PJ Harvey - The Hope Six Demolition Project
I got the call to come into the studio the week before recording, and now it's become an entire world for me with the tour. The level of focus and drive that went into this is phenomenal and unlike any experience I've ever had. The recording itself was so unusual to start with, what with being watched through the two-way mirror as it was being recorded at Somerset House in London. I'd walk over the bridge at Waterloo every day from where I live in Lambeth to get to the studio installed in the basement, which, fittingly enough, is an old rifle range.
The record has such an unusual sound, almost no bass guitar, the primal heartbeat of the drums taking a lot of the low end. Battalions of brass and guitars juxtaposed with incredible lightness and subtlety. 'Chain Of Keys', 'Dollar Dollar', 'Ministry Of Defence', 'Ministry Of Social Affairs', 'The Wheel', 'River Anacostia', 'Community Of Hope'… the whole thing.
Playing this live every night is an absolute joy. Again, the focus involved with a ten-piece band, the lyrics, the music itself, the subject matter, the incredible attention to every detail, and, of course, the people. I've met so many lovely people in and around the band through this process and it's friends old and new thanks to this album.
The first gig I did with Polly was as Gallon Drunk with PJ Harvey doing a surprise slot, at a tiny pub in Hampstead in 1992, and then we supported her all round Europe and the States in 1993. So now for Terry and I to be working together with Polly again, finally, after all this time is just wonderful, and to get to play back-catalogue songs with these wild arrangements for the big band is amazing.
What a voice, just astonishing live. An all-round incredible experience, and a brilliant album.
