When Under Ether

Infobox Single
Name = When Under Ether


Artist = PJ Harvey
from Album = White Chalk
Released = September 17, 2007
Format = 7" vinyl and digital download
Recorded = November 2006 – mid-2007
Genre = Chamber music
Length = 2:25
Label = Island Records
Writer = PJ Harvey
Producer = Flood, John Parish, and Polly Jean Harvey
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single =
This single =
Next single =

"When Under Ether" is a song written by PJ Harvey for her album "White Chalk" (2007). It was released as the album's first single in September 2007. This song was #32 on "Rolling Stone"'s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007. [No byline (December 11, 2007). [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17601363/the_100_best_songs_of_2007/8 "The 100 Best Songs of 2007"] "Rolling Stone". Retrieved 2007-12-21]

ingle

"When Under Ether" was released as the lead single for "White Chalk" on September 17, 2007, in both digital download and limited edition 7" vinyl formats. The b-side is "Wait", a song which Harvey composed and recorded in 1988, rumoured to be one of her first recordings. [" [http://scripts.digicc.com/pjharvey/news.php?id=1229768396 'When Under Ether' Out Now] ." (September 18, 2007). "PJHarvey.net." Retrieved October 22, 2007.]

Tracklist

7"

A. When Under Ether
B. Wait

Promo (white label CD)

1. When Under Ether
2. Wait
3-10. Interviews

Instrumentation and lyrics

Like the majority of songs that appear on "White Chalk", "When Under Ether" was written and performed on the piano, which is a departure from prior PJ Harvey albums. It is also similar to the other tracks in that it is short in length and sung in a higher register than expected.

Musically, the song is quite sparse, centering around Harvey's vocals — which have an airy, almost otherworldly quality to them — and a subtle, repetitive piano melody. According to critic Joshua Klein "the simple repetitive pattern that gently drives 'When Under Ether' drips with menace." [Klein, Joshua (2007). " [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45773-white-chalk PJ Harvey: "White Chalk"] Review", "Pitchforkmedia.com". Joshua Klein, September 24, 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2008.] Drums, autoharp, and organ accompany the main components of the song and are quite low in the mix.

While the lyrics may indicate something as innocent as a dream dissolving into the clouds under diethyl ether intoxication, but while one critic takes the song as an account of a "harrowing" birth under archaic medical conditions [Hannan, Tom (2007). [http://www.rockfeedback.com/article.asp?nObjectID=5050 PJ Harvey: "White Chalk"] "Review", "Rockfeedback.com". 10/10/2007 3:02:52 PM. Retrieved June 10, 2008.] , some critics [Keefe, Jonathan (2007). [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1200 PJ Harvey: "White Chalk"] "Review", "Slant Magazine". Posted: October 1, 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2008.] [Mardles, Paul (2007). [http://shopping.guardian.co.uk/music/story/0,,2168474,00.html PJ Harvey: "White Chalk"] , "The Observer". Sunday September 16, 2007.] such as Heather PharesPhares, Heather (2008). [http://wm08.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:difyxzuhldfe PJ Harvey: "White Chalk"] "Review", "AllMusicGuide.com". Retrieved June 9, 2008.] hint that they "quite possibly" refer to "abortion, since unwanted children are some of the many broken family ties that haunt the album". However, when asked directly during an interview in the "The Guardian", Harvey replied, "That's obviously what you hear, but for me it's not actually tied to anything specific, like an abortion. These aren't just words. They're songs. They inhabit themselves, really". [" [http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0,,2178446,00.html Songs of innocence and experience] ." (September 28, 2007). "The Guardian." Retrieved October 22, 2007.]

Further reading

*Hogan, Marc (2007). [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/45180-pj-harvey-when-under-ether-stream PJ Harvey "When Under Ether"] "Forkast" [sic] , "Pitchforkmedia.com". Retrieved June 10, 2008.
*Klingman, Jeff (2007). [http://www.prefixmag.com/news/track-review-pj-harvey-when-under-ether/11201/ PJ Harvey "When Under Ether"] "Track Review", "Prefixmag.com". Retrieved June 10, 2008.

References