The Mercury Album winner re-valued

As it is to be expected from PJ Harvey, the first lady of Brit alt-rock has done it again, made an incredible album, end of story, well okay... She was around long before Alanis-army of soundalikes and will be as enduring (if she chooses to) as her heroine, Patti Smith. And this album, 'Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea', could be termed as a twin to Ms Smith's work if it didn't have that connotation of being a swizz.

Ms Harvey is not such kind of a woman; what it shares with the illustrious songstress is the feel and depth by being an album from and about the streets of New York. The imagery, the texture, the distant echo of music when the metropolis gave birth to NYC Punk, some 25 years ago.

The mastery of this album is also that it does sound timless. It is as modern as this moment but so inescapably Noo Yoik punk that, in its opening track 'Big Exit' it directly refers to Television. So does 'This Is Love', punkily delightful while dripping with acridity once so well practiced by Johnny Rotten.

PJ might have written this album in two places, NYC and her hideout in Dorset, but it is a record soaked in the mean streets Scorsese and Woody Allen adore so much. 'Big Exit' is full of guns, urban paranoia, and coppers, 'The Whores Hustle and The Hustlers Whore' are vivid with scenes of exploitation, fear and violence, there is drama in 'Horses In My Dream'... Radiohead's Thom 'Mr Happy' Yorke is featured vocalist on 'The Mess We Are In' managing to sound like he's enjoying himself, almost. (And, it sounds like a Radiohead tune, more than anything on 'Kid A' or 'Amnesiac.)'

Polly Jean's last album, 'Is This Desire?' was a totally downbeat affair while 'Stories' brim with optimism. In one brave, bountiful offering she's able to restore faith in the supreme power of elementary sounding rock.

PJ rightfully won the Mercury Prize because she was quality miles ahead of all other nominees.

9.25/10

PJ Harvey live dates:

30 September - Brixton Academy, London
01 October - ibidum