Description
2021 reissue, 12″ LP, BBC/Island.
After marking her “in session” debut on John Peel’s Radio 1 show as a virtual unknown in 1991, PJ Harvey became a semi-regular fixture at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios during the final years of the legendary DJ’s life. The Peel Sessions 1991-2004 doesn’t exactly reflect this – it is, after all, a selection of recordings rather than Harvey’s entire Peel Session archive- but it does give a snapshot of the West Country indie-rocker at her distinctive best. The plentiful highlights include an alternately low-slung and bluesy take on ‘Victory’, an increasingly breathless 1993 cover of Willie Dixon’s ‘Wang Dang Doodle’, a dense and fuzzy version of ‘This Wicked Tongue’ from 2000, and Harvey’s emotive, folksy rendition of ‘You Come Through’ from the 2004 John Peel tribute concert. – Juno
