PJ Harvey Begins Recording New Album in Public

Photo via Somerset House

As previously reported, PJ Harvey has begun recording her ninth album live in public. It’s part of an art installation at London’s Somerset House called Recording in Progress, and it’s happening until February 14. You can see Harvey create the album through one-way glass with producers Flood (who worked on 2011′s Let England Shake) and John Parish. Reports have begun to surface from the residency.

Time Out London reported that cell phones were confiscated before entering and viewers were led to a basement-level room. During the first viewing, she was reportedly working on a song called “Near The Memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln”. NME reports that she was playing violin, harmonica and hurdy-gurdy. 

The Guardian reported that she was joined by musicians Terry Edwards and James Johnson. They also report that Seamus Murphy was filming the entire thing.

A few lyrics have surfaced from the sessions, as well: “At the refreshment stand / a boy throws out his hand / as if to feed the starlings / but really he throws nothing.” 

As Stereogum points out, Somerset House also tweeted a photo of the entrance to the exhibit: 

This way for @PJHarveyUK: Recording in Progress w/ @Artangel. If you’re here for first session tweet using #PJHarvey. pic.twitter.com/jF3wFaYzLd

— Somerset House (@SomersetHouse) January 16, 2015

Watch Murphy’s short film for “The Last Living Rose”:

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