PJ Harvey’s official site announced that she’ll be returning to the studio next month to record a new album. After producing 2004’s Uh Huh Her by herself, she will give production duties back to two familiar collaborators, Flood and John Parish. Thus far, the majority of the new material has been written for piano, which is great news to me.

PJ always pushes herself to evolve in new directions and there’s been very little piano heard throughout her seven studio albums. In my head, I hear this music being similar to Fiona Apple’s in impact and feeling. I sure don’t want it to sound just like Fiona, but if it was in the same vein, we could be in for a real treat. Since Fiona takes years to pull herself together and get a label to release her albums, the next PJ Harvey could be the perfect stopgap in between. Here’s hoping PJ sticks with the piano this time around.