PJ Harvey came up trumps yet again in the annual Mercury Music Prize where a panel of music aficionados decide upon the best British album of the year. In the past, they have often went with the front runner or popular choice such as, Suede’s debut and, Pulp’s,'Different Class', but sometimes they go way off the map and pick something 'out there' like, 'Speech Debelle'. No shocks this year though and, PJ Harvey’s fantastic, highly esteemed wartime concept album, 'Let England Shake' deservedly took the plaudits. In doing so, Harvey has become the first person to win the Mercury Prize twice. Her first win came on 11 September 2001, when instead of collecting her award she "watched the Pentagon burn" from her hotel room in Washington DC. This time around, she got to enjoy the occasion.
The competition was fairly stiff with the likes of Adele, James Blake, Katy B, Elbow and Metronomy vying for the award. From what I have heard (and plan to review very soon), Harvey's latest effort is well worthy of the gong.
Following a performance of, 'The Words That Maketh Murder', where, Harvey was adorned in a flowing white gown and feathered headdress, she accepted the award with the quiet sincerity typical of her. She then went on to acknowledge that the events and impact of 9/11 had informed her most recent album, 'Let England Shake', which for a large part, draws on the horrors of war.
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