New PJ Harvey - "When Under Ether"

In the aptly titled, Tori Amos-style piano ballad "When Under Ether," PJ Harvey's protagonist is, well, "under ether," which causes the ceiling to move like "a conveyer belt" and her mind to race. Despite the wasted head-spinning, she has good company, a woman (nurse?) who holds her hand throughout the mysterious track, and both seem genuinely happy, relieved, blessed even by the "human kindness" (an abortion song, perhaps?). Pretty tune ... and a wonderfully strange first single from Harvey's forthcoming LP White Chalk. The recorded version debuted yesterday on BBC 6 Radio (grab it at Deaf Indie Elephants), but how's about this echoey live take performed at the
Copenhagen Opera six months ago?

White Chalk is out 9/24 on Island.

Posted at 12:09 PM in MP3, Video
Tags: PJ Harvey

6 Comments

that live version is cool, but the studio version really brings it together for me. i hope the album is good..

Posted by: ben at 08/02/07 1:27 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

Extremely beautiful! And a wise choice for 1st single.

Posted by: Dexter at 08/02/07 1:56 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

sooooooo excited for this album.

Posted by: Jen at 08/02/07 3:59 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

Nice tune.. brave choice for a single, given how low-key (and short) it is, I guess PJ doesn't really have to shout to get our attention at this stage though.

Posted by: Richie at 08/02/07 8:55 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

Absolutely stunning.

Posted by: Chris at 08/12/07 7:54 AM  | Reply
Score = 0

anyone a idea where you could download this song?

Posted by: ron at 10/03/07 2:55 PM  | Reply
Score = 0