A newly released demo of PJ Harvey’s “Let England Shake” offers a rare look into her songwriting process.
The track begins with a loop of the vocal group the Four Lads’ 1958 novelty hit “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” which runs underneath her entire song. Although the song’s influence echoed in the studio version of the track, which became the title track of her 2010 LP, it was mostly in the rhythm of the percussion and guitar line. But here on the demo, you can hear Harvey singing along with the sample at the end. Another revealing moment comes when she starts playing along with the sample; it’s in a different key, adding to the chaos she’s singing about, and it foreshadows some of the dissonances of the album version.
The track will appear on Let England Shake – Demos, which contains early versions of the 12 songs that appear on the LP version of Let England Shake, which is also getting a vinyl reissue. When the album came out, it was a critical success. It won the Mercury Prize and Album of the Year in the Ivor Novello Awards. Both reissues will come out on Jan. 28. The demos’ release will also be available digitally and on CD.
The release is the latest installment of a reissue campaign Harvey kicked off last year with the demo of “Sheela-Na-Gig,” a song that later appeared on her debut album, Dry. She has subsequently offered vinyl reissues of each of her albums, as well as companion LPs of the demos.
VIDEOS
Kanye West has been lauded as a creative genius for often going against the grain and finding ways to make fans relate to his music and visuals, even if it is done through unconventional methods. His new music video for “530” accurately displays that ability, depicting common human experiences via puppets and people wearing masks.
The 47-year-old artist shared the lengthy visual via Instagram, supporting the record which appeared on his August 2024 collaborative LP with Ty Dolla $ign titled Vultures 2. Initially, “530” made headlines for the Chicago producer taking shots at his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and name-dropping Drake. However, the video took things in a different direction.
Puppets are used in the visual to represent women getting lip injections, looking at themselves in the mirror, styling their hair, or running errands. Male puppets also appeared in the video, seemingly carrying on with their everyday activities without paying too much attention to the women around them unless they have been enhanced by surgery. There is also a noticeable difference between some visually frightening puppets wearing masks and others who are much better put together. Watch the “530” video below.
“You a fake bi**h, you don’t really love Ye bi**h, go listen to Drake bi**h,” Kanye West rapped on the record. As for Kim Kardashian, he seemingly reflected on how difficult it was to lose her with the lines “Pray your soulmate got a soul when you meet her/ The crystal ball couldn’t tell me if they’d leave again / Problems too extra large to share it with a medium.” He also addressed how tough it was to co-parent, rapping, “The past year been a strange time/ Visitations on Facetime/ And who gon’ break who’s heart first? Always just breaks mine.”
Ye and Kim K officially got divorced in November 2022 and it was a difficult road afterward, as she soon began dating Pete Davidson. West quickly moved on as well, marrying Bianca Censori in January 2023. As for his on-and-off rivalry with the Toronto superstar, it is safe to believe he may never move on.
When Kendrick Lamar fired the first shot on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” the 24-time Grammy winner jumped in and revealed that he was on the “Like That” remix. He also spoke with Justin LaBoy and revealed that he enthusiastically linked up with Lamar, Future, Boomin, Rick Ross, The Weeknd, and A$AP Rocky to aid in the “elimination of Drake.” Listen to the “Like That” remix below.
.jpg)
.jpg)
