It’s been several years since PJ Harvey has released an album and it may not get the juices flowing for some to read it’s based on her long form poem, Orlam. Those people however would be wrong. Working with producers Flood and John Parish for I Inside the Old Year Dying, Harvey keeps the album moving with the longest song clocking in at just over 4 minutes.
The best songs here are the ones that reference Elvis Presley including the acoustic guitar track “Lwonesome Tonight” and the clattering beats of “August”. One of the best moments on the album is the solid drum beat on “A Child’s Question, August” and the deadpan chorus of “love me tender/tender love” sung with actor Ben Whishaw.
The title track is louder with dissonance and distortion before disappearing in a quick 2 minutes. There is a dark atmosphere of dread on “All Souls”, a distant bass bangs away on “I Inside the Old I Dying”. On these tracks, PJ Harvey adds texture and changing moods that is kept up through this album. I Inside the Old Year Dying sounds like it could be filled with 10 minute slogs but instead flies by like the wind on a dark summer’s night.
7.5/10
The Light Appears 