PJ Harvey’s latest song, “The Community of Hope”, has come under fire from US politicians for its “unfavourable” depiction of Washington D.C.

The track – which is the third release from the singer’s upcoming Hope Six Demolition Project – apparently features controversial lyrics about Ward 7, an underdeveloped area in the American capital. Referring to the central Benning Road as a “well-known pathway of death”, Harvey rips into the Ward’s rampant inequality – calling it a “drug town” filled with “zombies”. 

Washington council candidates have since kicked off about the song on Twitter, with former mayor Vince Gray saying that he would “no longer dignify this inane composition with a response.” His campaign treasurer added that Harvey was “to music what Piers Morgan is to cable news.” Whatever that means.

Councilwoman Yvette Alexander also shared her thoughts, tweeting that she respected “all artist forms of expression”, but that “The Community of Hope” was not an accurate expression of Ward 7. Listen below to form your own opinion.

The Hope Six Demolition Project is set to be released on April 15. Listen to two other tracks from the record here