“White Chalk” veers off the road that has been PJ Harvey’s body of work and delves into the gothic. Polly Jean fearlessly eschews her guitar in exchange for a piano. Her vocals ascend to a higher register than previously thought possible. So severe is her change in sound, you’d think the record is by another artist entirely.

Are these changes a good thing? I’m pleased to answer with a resounding “Yes!”. The listener is challenged and rewarded with a trip into a haunting, otherworldly fantasy. An apt alternate title for this release would be “Chamber Music for the Masses”.

The album’s opener, “The Devil”, is an off-kilter cabaret which gently prepares you for what’s to come. “Dear Darkness”, “To Talk to You”, and “Before Departure” are sparse and minimalist; voice and piano are the primary instruments. “Grow Grow Grow” moves with a sinister, waltz-like majesty. The title track is an ethereal treat; listen as Harvey’s voice becomes a ghostly mist floating through the countryside.

Grow Grow Grow

Interestingly, the album’s climax is in the last track entitled “The Mountain”–where we find Harvey in a caterwauling cry of despair as we reluctantly come to journey’s end. Running at an all-too-brief 30 minutes, the entire album evokes a mood that is austere, yet darkly romantic.

The Verdict: “White Chalk” is not a reinvention, but a beautiful demonstration of PJ Harvey’s depth as an artist. This is easily one of the best releases of 2007.

White Chalk

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