MURDER, SHE SANG

Polly Jean Harvey dismissed drummer Rob Ellis and bassist Steve Vaughan, the two other musicians in her trio PJ Harvey, after two albums in 1994. But the three are heard together again on “Soundtrack to Spleen,” a concept album made by Ellis over the last four years that features two songs co-written and sung by Harvey.

The album, credited to Spleen, contains songs and narratives telling the story of a violent love triangle that leads to the murder of Harvey’s character, a junkie child-bride named Mrs. Soames. Ellis plays the part of her homicidal husband, with the part of her lover played by Tim Farthing, formerly of the band Gutless, which Harvey championed and booked to open many of her early concerts.

“Soundtrack to Spleen” will be released in England on Aug. 5 by the small, Bristol-based label Swarf Finger.