Dance Hall At Louse Point - John Parish PJ Harvey

The very fact that the last and only other review of Dance Hall at Louse Point on Dooyoo was in 2000 is indicative of this way that this album was released, promoted and received. It was released in 1996, just as PJ Harvey was riding the crest of the wave of success of the album 'To Bring You My Love', but it seemed to go almost unnoticed, perhaps because top bill went to John Parish (who wrote and played the music, whilst PJ Harvey wrote the lyrics and sang vocals) and she was listed as Polly Jean Harvey rather than the usual PJ Harvey we know and love her as. Critics saw it as an art experiment, reviews of it are mixed, but to me it retains that bluesy rock sound that ...  Read the complete review

Firstly, I should declare that I am a huge Peedge fan. Ever since the first time I heard sheela-na-gig, I have eagerly anticipated her next release. And October 23rd, 2000 is no exception. 'Dance Hall...' is, for me, PJ's most expressive work to date. As you would expect, it is an album full of feeling, and full of emotion. But do not ever buy this album expecting an hour plus of catchy tunes you can sing along to. This is a musical masterpiece, not a commercially oriented chart topping album. It is in places hard to listen to (City of no Sun), sometimes easy (That was my veil), and it even includes a gloriously assembled cover of 'Is that all there ...  Read the complete review