PJ Harvey

Let England Shake

First released2011

Let England Shake was recorded primarily at Malpas Court in Herefordshire, England, during 2010 with producer and engineer Flood, who had previously worked with Harvey on Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. The album was created in a relatively isolated, countryside setting that contrasted with urban recording environments, contributing to its distinctive sound and thematic connection to English landscapes. Harvey employed unconventional recording techniques and instrumentation, including field recordings and various acoustic instruments, with minimal overdubbing to capture a raw, live quality. The production process reflected Harvey's artistic vision of creating a stripped-down, urgent response to the social and political climate of early 2010s Britain. The album was released in February 2011 and later won the Mercury Prize, demonstrating critical recognition of both its artistic and technical achievements.