Often, when bands or artist release demo compilations or albums, it can feel a bit like trying to cash in. Such compilations tend to offer little to the uninitiated, but can be treasure troves for dedicated fans, who want nothing more than to see deeper inside the genesis of some of their favourite songs.

Whatever your opinion on this, there’s no denying that demo collections can be incredibly appealing. They offer us an insight into the creative process, and when the artist in question is someone of the talent and gravitas of PJ Harvey, there’s no doubt, in my mind, that they’re something to get excited about.

7When Dry originally dropped in 1992 it launched PJ Harvey into the public eye. It received widespread critical acclaim, featured in numerous end of year ‘best of’ lists, and remains one of the greatest debut albums ever released. It was a raw, dizzying, and mesmerising collection that stands up nearly twenty years later.

The first five thousand LPs and one thousand CDs of the original release of Dry came bundled with a collection of demos from the album, and they’ve become very collectable and sought after in the years since. This release, then, should prove very popular.

Of course, this is a stripped-back, intimate collection of tracks, but it’s fascinating to be able to chart the progress of each song. Some, such as Sheela-Na-Gig and Dress are particularly intense, the demo form of the tracks capturing the ferocity of the songs in a different way to that of the finished counterparts. Other tracks, such as Hair, find a new introspection, a softer, more personal feel that’s born out of the unrefined nature of the demo format.

This is an exceptionally captivating collection. Fans, of course, will lap it up, but there’s few better places for newcomers to PJ Harvey to witness where it all began.

Dry Demos track list:

1. Oh My Lover

2. O Stella

3. Dress

4. Victory

5. Happy And Bleeding

6. Sheela-Na-Gig

7. Hair

8. Joe

9. Plants And Rags

10. Fountain

11. Water

 singer-songwriter 

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.