Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1997 16:40:06 +0000 
      From: Richard Clemens
      (R.Clemens@UNIVERSITY-MANAGEMENT.SALFORD.AC.UK)
      Subject: Dancing at Louse Point - short live review


As its not really 4AD (only connection off the top of my head is via Nick
Cave) I'll try to be brief.

I went to see the John Parish/Polly Jean Harvey & some dance group
(sorry forgot the name) perform 'Dancing at Louse Point' at the Nia
Centre, Manchester last night (Monday) and would strongly recommend
anyone who has the option to go does.

The music is much more intense than on the record. Polly's singing
is as intense as every, but with even more scope and range. It seems
the smaller and thinner she looks, the greater her voice. And she
looked really small last night. The music itself is all by John
Parish (lyrics by Polly) and varies from standard (if there is such
a thing) PJ Harvey sound(s) through more Patti Smith type bits,
through UT sound mis-shapes and is superbly delivered.

The dancing was an eye openner. I've seen a bit of dance in the past
(ex-partner was a classically trainned dancer) and always found modern
dance to be either dull or embarrassing, as I did much
classical/ballet dancing. Now I know why. Modern dance is usually
done to dull or embarrasing music. Despite not being able to see the
floor of the stage the movement of the five dancers was quite
captivating. In fact in a certain sense I quite enjoyed the bits
where all I could see were various parts of anatomy popping up! But
if you do go, tyr and get a seat where yoou can see the floor over or
throuogh people's heads.

All five of us who went really enjoyed the show. Only two of us had
heard any of PJ Harvey, and none were particularly 'dance'
consiseurs.

And the way that women moved her shoulders and arms had the
Nia Centre captivated, totally.

Richard