PJ Harvey and John Parish premiered the first single from their upcoming album last night. The song is called Black Hearted Love and is available for preview and purchase on 7digital.

I’m an ardent PJ fan, so let me first say: I really want to like this.

First impressions?  Not so good.

Actually, that’s not true, my very first impression was that I like the sound a lot.  It’s amazing how you can make something so clean sound so dirty with a few strategically placed guitar sounds.  I like the little off beat thing on the first syllable of each verse line.  I like the sound on the chorus and the surprising little weird chord at the start of the chorus riff.  The melody sticks in my head even if I wish it was a bit more adventurous.  And I like the ending.  The ending is my favourite bit.

But I did say “not so good”, didn’t I?  Having listened to it a few times now I can’t shake that feeling of old-dudes-over-the-hill-rolling-stones-in-the-late-nineties type of laid back rock and roll beat.  I picture Keith Richards with his stubby sausage fingers playing that wailing solo bit and Jagger himself strutting about belching out the chorus.  I can’t help it.

I’ll give it another few chances, and I’m still looking forward to the rest of the album and Oslo concert a lot, I just hope this isn’t as exciting as it’s going to get.  Knowing miss Harvey, it isn’t. Black Hearted Love