Harvey, P.J.: Rid Of Me LP

Just a year after the acclaimed release of her debut album Dry (1992), PJ Harvey returned with the art-punk classic Rid Of Me which pushed the genre and listener to extremes and yielded the singles "50ft Queenie" and "Man-Size." Alternating between searing noise/feedback and sparse open spaces, Rid Of Me is a riveting emotional experience. As usual, legendary producer Steve Albini maximizes every space and sound, working with the exacting, mechanical precision for which he's known. It's the perfect complement to Harvey's harsh, stark, disturbed songwriting. This period also firmly established Harvey's creative relationship with photographer and director Maria Mochnacz who shot the artwork and also directed the videos for "50ft Queenie" and "Man-Size." Rid Of Me attracted reams of positive press on release. Pitchfork described it as "searing and monumental," the BBC suggested it was "an essential one that demands your attention from beginning to end" and Record Collector declared it was "an album of defiance – harrowing and brilliant." This vinyl LP reissue of Rid Of Me is faithful to the original recording and package with cutting by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering under the guidance of Steve Albini. UMC/Island's comprehensive reissue campaign will see PJ Harvey's entire back catalogue – plus her two albums in collaboration with John Parish – released on vinyl over the next 12 months. For the first time, each of Harvey's album demos will also be available on stand-alone vinyl.