When Under Ether
Encyclopedia
"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
for White Chalk on 17 September 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.
A. When Under Ether
B. Wait
Promo (white label
CD)
1. When Under Ether
2. Wait
3-10. Interviews
, 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." 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, some critics such as Heather Phares 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 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".
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
for her album White Chalk
White Chalk
White Chalk is the eighth studio album by PJ Harvey, released on 24 September 2007 in the UK, and on 2 October 2007 in the US.Work on the album started in 2006, with producer Flood and John Parish, who also worked on her To Bring You My Love and Is This Desire? albums...
(2007). It was released as the album's first single in September 2007. This song was #32 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
Single
"When Under Ether" was released as the lead singleLead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
for White Chalk on 17 September 2007, in both digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
and limited edition 7" vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
formats. The b-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
is "Wait", a song which Harvey composed and recorded in 1988, rumoured to be one of her first recordings.
Tracklist
7"A. When Under Ether
B. Wait
Promo (white label
White label
White label records are vinyl records with adhesive plain white labels affixed. Test pressings, usually with Test Pressing written on the label, with catalogue number, artist and recording time or date, are produced in small quantities to evaluate the quality of the disc production...
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 pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, 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." Drums, autoharp
Autoharp
The autoharp is a musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers, which, when depressed, mute all of the strings other than those that form the desired chord. Despite its name, the autoharp is not a harp at all, but a chorded zither. -History:There is debate over the...
, 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
Aether
-Metaphysics and mythology:* Aether , the material that fills the region of the universe above the terrestrial sphere* Aether was the personification of the "upper sky", space and heaven, in Greek mythology-Science and engineering:...
under diethyl ether
Diethyl ether
Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula . It is a colorless, highly volatile flammable liquid with a characteristic odor...
intoxication, but while one critic takes the song as an account of a "harrowing" birth under archaic medical conditions, some critics such as Heather Phares hint that they "quite possibly" refer to "abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, since unwanted children are some of the many broken family ties that haunt the album". However, when asked directly during an interview in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 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".
Further reading
- Hogan, Marc (2007). PJ Harvey "When Under Ether" "Forkast"[sic], Pitchforkmedia.comPitchfork MediaPitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
. Retrieved 10 June 2008. - Klingman, Jeff (2007). PJ Harvey "When Under Ether" "Track Review", Prefixmag.com. Retrieved 10 June 2008.