This just in: A new PJ Harvey song from her forthcoming album Let England Shake, which comes out next February. The song is a half-spiky, half-spacey track that finds Harvey exploring the upper register of her voice the way she did on White Chalk; it is called "Written On The Forehead," and it's definitely not what I expected after hearing other songs she'd been working on. (A sampling of artists/labels name-checked by friends who'd heard the track: Deerhunter, Cocteau Twins, the Knife, Kate Bush, "early 4AD," "almost Stones Throw.") But what fun would the predictable be? Stream after the jump.
Right? BTW:
Let England Shake was recorded in a 19th Century church in Dorset with long time collaborator Flood who co-produced the album with PJ Harvey, John Parish and Mick Harvey. The record was also mixed by Flood.
[Stream via 17 dots]

Holy shit! Yes Deerhunter, but Deerhunter fronted by Yoko Ono?
Different. But I likee!
Still wrapping my head around this. I think this is her biggest departure yet?
"early 4AD"
swoon
I adore her but...nah :(
Wait, is that a Hannah Weiner reference?
La Peej never fails to be interesting.
Syd Barrett/Robyn Hitchcock-upskirt hypnoshit, I kinda sorta really like.
Seems like she's gotten back to the allegorical lyrical stuff, a la Is This Desire. Dreamy.
The vocal treatment is very Cocteau Twins. Very much like. This would have killed on "120minutes."
smooove
this is such a delightful surprise!