Medicinals (song)

Recording

The song was recorded during public sessions at Somerset House in London as part of an art installation called Recording in Progress. These sessions lasted for a month from 16 January 2015 to 14 February, each forty-five minutes long. Viewers observed through one-way glass with producers Flood and John Parish. During one viewing, Harvey worked on a song called "Near the Memorials to Vietnam and Lincoln", playing violin, harmonica and hurdy-gurdy, joined by musicians Terry Edwards and James Johnston.

Release

The Hope Six Demolition Project's singles were premiered on BBC Radio 6 Music. "The Wheel" debuted on Steve Lamacq's show on 21 January 2016, and "The Community of Hope" on Shaun Keaveny's show on 10 March 2016. "The Orange Monkey" was released as the third single on 7 April 2016. Music videos for "The Wheel" and "The Community of Hope" were directed by Seamus Murphy.

Critical reception

The album received generally positive reviews, with a Metacritic score of 79 based on 34 reviews. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune praised it as building masterfully to a powerful closing. Robert Christgau described the record as politics according to Polly, with keen observation and analytic detachment. Mojo named it the ninth-best album of 2016, and Uncut the sixth-best.

The opening track "The Community of Hope" drew criticism from politicians in Washington D.C.'s Ward 7, with former DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray refusing to dignify it with a response. Grant Thompson stated Harvey needed to see more of the city. Laura Snapes of Pitchfork questioned whether pointing out problems without proposing solutions made Harvey responsible for desertion.

Did You Know?

• Harvey wrote the songs for The Hope Six Demolition Project during travels to Kosovo, Afghanistan and Washington D.C. with photographer Seamus Murphy between 2011 and 2014.
• The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling 11,436 copies in its first week.
• In its second week, the album fell twenty-two places to number twenty-three, registering the third-largest drop in chart history for a number one album.