PJ Harvey, aka. Polly Jean Harvey MBE, is set to record her new album and it’s going to be a work of art. No, literally.

In collaboration with innovative art producers Artangel and Somerset House, Harvey presents ‘Recording in Progress’ – a venture in which she will record her ninth album enclosed within an architectural installation designed by Something & Son. Formerly the Inland Revenue’s staff gymnasium and rifle range, the site is located in the recently opened New Wing and with Harvey having attended art college in Somerset herself, there seems no better fit, right?

Following in the footsteps of Marina Abramovic, who spent last summer at work in London’s Serpentine Gallery, the one way-glazed box (so they have no idea who’s watching) will display PJ Harvey, her band, producers and engineers as an art form, a multi-dimensional sound sculpture exhibited for all to see.

Set to demonstrate both the recording process and the attention, time, labour and skill involved in making a recording, the installation will run from January 16. But after Somerset House’s website buckled under the pressure of immense ticket desires, 3,000 tickets have been sold despite many of Harvey’s die-hard fans being left disappointed (time to plan a break in strategy?) As Harvey’s first return to the album recording studio since Let England Shake (2011 Mercury Prize win), to say we were just excited would be a gross understatement.