Mick Harvey

Announces Series of Vinyl Reissues

MICK HARVEY ANNOUNCES SERIES OF VINYL REISSUES

ONE MAN’S TREASURE / TWO OF DIAMONDS, SKETCHES FROM THE BOOK OF THE DEAD & FOUR (ACTS OF LOVE)

OUT ON MUTE ON 13 JANUARY 2023

MICK HARVEY has announced details of a series of vinyl reissues for 2023: One Man’s Treasure / Two Of Diamonds, Sketches From The Book Of The Dead and FOUR (Acts of Love) are all set for release on 13 January 2023 on colour vinyl, with Delirium Tremens and Intoxicated Women following in April: https://mute.ffm.to/mh-reissues 

The series opens with One Man’s Treasure (2005), a collection of original compositions and reworkings of songs by Lee Hazlewood, Tim Buckley and Jeffrey Lee Pierce of The Gun Club that serves as, essentially, his first solo album (previous releases being the two albums of Serge Gainsbourg reinterpretations). Every song on the album is connected by a passionate, personal connection, the basic album tracks were all recorded by Harvey at his home studio, with the project developing spontaneously from there setting the scene for Harvey to step out into centre stage. “It was something I was doing to entertain myself,” explains Harvey, “there was no master plan”.

Encouraged by reactions to the debut, Two Of Diamonds (2007, packaged here with One Man’s Treasure) followed soon after and this time saw Harvey accompanied by a band – Rosie Westbrook (double bass), James Johnston (organ and guitar), and Thomas Wydler (drums) alongside guest musicians Rob Ellis, and Julitha Ryan (piano). The album, once more, is comprised of original compositions and tracks that Harvey felt a deep connection to, these include songs written by Emmylou Harris, PJ Harvey and Bill Withers as well as Mano Nega’s ‘Out Of Time Man’ which went on to be featured prominently in TV shows including Breaking Bad, Orphan Black and The Tourist.

Sketches From The Book Of The Dead (2011), was the first album to be entirely written by Harvey, and pays tribute to Harvey’s friend and former bandmate Rowland S Howard (1959-2009). Mick Harvey plays most of the instruments, and is joined by Rosie Westbrook on double bass, J.P. Shilo on accordion & violin, with Xanthe Waite contributing occasional ethereal backing vocals. 

FOUR (Acts of Love) (2013) is a song cycle divided into 3 Acts, a contemplation on romantic love – its loss, re-awakening, our ongoing struggles with it and its place in our universe. The album features original compositions by Mick Harvey alongside a song by long-time collaborator PJ Harvey, plus interpretations of beloved tracks by The Saints, Van Morrison Exuma, and Roy Orbison.

Mick Harvey is a founding member of The Birthday Party, Crime and the City Solution and The Bad Seeds and has collaborated extensively with PJ Harvey, Rowland S Howard and Anita Lane. His solo releases began in 1995 with the first in a series of Serge Gainsbourg interpretations and translations – which he recently revived with two acclaimed releases in 2016 and 2017, Delirium Tremens and Intoxicated Women. Both will receive the vinyl reissue treatment in April. 

Harvey has been scoring film and television since 1988’s ‘Ghosts… of the Civil Dead’ (Dir. John Hillcoat) and a collection of his soundtrack work – featuring music from ‘Chopper’ (Dir. Andrew Dominik, 2000), the award-winning soundtracks for ‘Australian Rules’ (Dir. Paul Goldman, 2002) and ‘Suburban Mayhem’ (Dir. Paul Goldman, 2006) and more – was released by Mute in 2006. His most recent releases include, The Fall and Rise of Edgar Bourchier and the Horrors of War (2019, a collaboration with Christopher Richard Barker) and the soundtracks for Waves of Anzac / The Journey (2020).

PRAISE FOR MICK HARVEY

“The collection of emotionally brutal songs found on One Man’s Treasure is delivered with the vision of a cowboy looking at life through the bottom of a glass of whisky.” – Popmatters / One Man’s Treasure

“… a typically moody amalgamation of originals and covers, with particular focus on songs from fellow Australians.” – Pitchfork / Two of Diamonds

“Harvey’s direct production style – sparse, dusty and frequently drum-free – draws attention to the lyrics, a collection of outback eulogies and austere Australiana, which are frequently astonishing…” – The Line of Best Fit / Sketches From The Book Of The Dead

“Four is an accessible album, filled with heavy questions about what love really means, posed through sensitive and dramatic arrangements.” – Clash / FOUR (Acts of Love)

http://www.mickharvey.com/