PJ Harvey – Troxy, London 28/02/11

Having headed straight into the UK charts at number 8 with her eighth studio album, the first to make the top 10 since 1993’s Rid Of Me, it is glaringly obvious to all, (except perhaps for the songstress herself), that Miss Polly Jean Harvey has become somewhat of an institution. Forever challenging her own soundscape and exploring areas well beyond her vocal comfort range, the seemingly unfathomable singer’s stentorian vocals, quirky sensibilities and flat out raw, honest talent have secured her a well deserved place as a much beloved icon.

Performing to a sold out Troxy on Monday night, the last of two shows at this auspicious East London venue, PJ Harvey was dressed all in white, wearing a grand, feathered headdress. With autoharp on shoulder, the enigmatic singer stood aloof, drenched in the spotlight. Joined on stage by Jean-Marc Butt on drums and long time collaborators Mick Harvey and John Parish, she seemed a dispassionate observer of tonight’s events. Opening with album title-track ‘Let England Shake’, Polly Harvey effortlessly transformed an already impressive recorded number into this evening’s live setting, as her distinctive, sharp, piercing and off kilter vocals swirled around the gentle tinkering of keys and chiming bells.

With a bitter, albeit understated vitriol, Polly Harvey plays Let England Shake in its entirety – each bruised refrain and satirical driven limerick drenched in her uniquely awkward yet stunning aesthetic. ‘Written On The Forehead’ and ‘The Last Living Rose’ are infused with a striking theatricality, as PJ’s strained falsetto rise above the glockenspiel chimes and eerily washed out keys and disjointed percussion. The half-tones of songs like ‘The Words That Maketh Murder’ and set highlight ‘The Glorious Land’ hang ominously in the air as the harsh, brutal refrain “What is the glorious fruit of our land? The fruit is deformed children” rings out over hauntingly sparse, delicate and precise instrumentals.

Only uttering a word after returning to the stage for the encore, PJ Harvey thanks everyone for coming down before breaking out the guitar for a howling rendition of ‘Meet Ze Monsta’. Having smattered the set with a selection of songs from past albums, tracks like ‘C’mon Billy’ and ‘The Sky Lit Up’ really stood out as vitally as ever, while the encore number ‘Silence’ could not be a more perfect finish to this evening.