PJ Harvey And Long Time Collaborator John Parish Create A Musical Masterpiece 20 Years Ago
PJ Harvey, using her full name Polly Jean Harvey on this collaboration, and John Parish join forces to create one of the most eerie Art Rock albums of the 90's. John Parish takes on the albums instrumental duties, composing and playing almost everything himself, while PJ Harvey assumes the songwriting and vocals, some of her most sinister to date. The albums only song not credited to them is an eccentric cover of the Peggy Lee classic "Is That All There Is?". Polly has been working with John off and on since the late 80's, and their bond is apparent, as their unique approach to this album comes together devilishly perfect. The album saw one single released, "That Was My Veil", quite possibly the only radio friendly song on "Dance Hall At Louse Point".
Although the album failed to achieve success on the charts, it was critically hailed and became a beloved fan favorite. "Dance Hall At Louse Point" plays almost as if it were the soundtrack to an artsy 90's Independent Film about life in a nightmare. Equally thrilling as it is chilling, this album may induce goosebumps not because of it's powerful inspiration, but as a result of it's anxious tension. I don't mean any of that in a bad way, PJ Harvey bravely explores unknown territories with her song writing and vocals, heading in multiple uncomfortably intriguing directions, driven along the way by John Parish's wicked instrumentation. Let them take you to the "City Of No Sun", if you dare.....
There is no shortage of shocking and rocking tales on this album. "Urn with Dead Flowers in a Drained Pool", "Civil War Correspondent" and "Heela" (a John Parish duet) continue along that dark and beaten path, but these songs all stand in the shadow of the terrifyingly triumphant "Taut". If you thought "City Of No Sun" took us down a cold dark road, "Taut" is a frozen pitch black isolated path in the middle of nowhere, with no turning back! This ride is guaranteed to have you "Steaming and sweating and sticking against the wheel", constantly twisting and turning from squealing shrieks to haunting whispers, definitely not a ride for the weak of stomach.
Not all of "Dance Hall At Louse Point" is as aggressive. It's only single, "That Was My Veil", could easily play along side contemporaries of it's time, like Sheryl Crow or Paula Cole, without notice of the nightmare of it's origin. John Parish also refreshingly provides the album with two instrumental tracks, he gives the tension a break towards the albums end with it's plucky title track, and starts the album off brilliantly with it's first haunting jaunt, the short acoustic "Girl", featuring Polly's misleadingly angelic voice inviting you in like a siren in the distance. The next song's minute long intro is what really starts you down the dark path crawling along slowly, as the intensity builds higher and higher. At it's peak awaits Polly, purging her way through "Rope Bridge Crossing". Don't be afraid to follow, she reassures us she will "Be there to catch you, after the fall".
The other side of the bridge is beaming with sunshine. That being said, PJ ushers us quickly to the back corner table of the dimly lit and smoky "Dance Hall At Louse Point". She renders her patrons instead a tale of the sun, "Un Cercle Autour du Soleil", managing still to suck the life out of it with her dead pan delivery. Another avant-garde adventure is found in the Peggy Lee classic "Is That All There Is?", a bizarre jazz standard that is a perfect fit for this already isolating album.
The end of the road is upon us. With most nightmares that is a welcomed expression, but something about this trip, albeit an uncomfortable ride, makes me wanna go back! You can't help but agree with PJ Harvey, sounding gleeful for the first time at the albums end, when she asks "please take me one more time" on the closing track "Lost Fun Zone".
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