We Float, PJ Harvey

Stories From the City, Stories From The Sea is quickly becoming one of my most listened to albums. Every song has a certain tension, and the album is full of paradoxes as the title suggests - it's full of urban rock and soulful ballads - as she explores something truly modern whilst creating some wonderful melodies and textured sounds. Harvey makes this work magically, and I think that We Float is the perfect example of why I love the album so much. From the introduction of the percussion and piano sitting side by side in a really jarring fashion, followed by PJ's beautiful voice being introduced, supported by a real grasp of lyrical rhythm. The opening has some lines which just reel of wonderfully:

We wanted to find love
We wanted success
Until nothing was enough
Until my middle name was excess

To me, it's pure poetry as PJ does some laid back rock. Then the introduction of the chorus comes, and it's just really transcendental, perfectly illustrating the tension within the album and the song itself. I can't place my finger on why her voice, or this part of the song moves me so much. It's never occurred to me that this song could be about her relationship with Nick Cave until now, wouldn't that be perfect, or not: he hurt her, he turned to drugs (When you got lost into the city/Got lost into the night) which causes her heartbreak, but also her tranquillity as she reflects on the end of the relationship. It's bitter, it's soulful and heartfelt, it's just a work of pure beauty.