Alright!!! 'Trip-Hop' trappings aside, is the album worth all the hype? It depends what side of the fence you're on. If you expect a deja-vu of prior albums then you'll be disappointed. If you expect evolution in the form of different tempos and minimal live sounding instrumentation then you wont be disappointed. It's not as terrifying as the eponymous sophomore album was(which I really have to be in the mood to listen to- and that doesn't happen too often) but it shows progression and an escape of the cliched sounds that Portishead could have fallen into. For those asking "WTF?" listen to 'Out Of Season' by Beth Gibbons and Rustin' Man and that should provide the missing link you so badly require. That album easily showcased Gibbons to be a truely talented and varied vocalist with a unique style tackling noir-ish retro acoustic backdrops. She easily sidestepped the pitfalls of "Trip-Hop diva" niche so many other groups still cling to (Sneaker Pimps, Morcheeba and Zero7 come to mind). So they've returned with a live sounding, simply arranged album that reclaims what they, Massive Attack and Tricky helped to usher in halfway through the 90's- music with no boundaries or genres to define it. It drew from every source it could get it's hands on. Old school synth, keyboards and drum machines are prevalent.
Songs like the opener 'Silence' remind us of the spy flick themes of yester-year, albeit faster and more intense. The tempo of 'Nylon Smile' conjures images of our protagonist running through a dense forest or jungle trying to escape- Another person. A memory. An emotion. While the first single 'Machine Gun' seems like a questionable choice, it's brilliance strikes once you get past the jarring rhythm pattern (which in the long run adds to the song's dynamics when taken in as a whole.). The tracks are infused with a spontaneity and live feel not heard on prior LPs. The song 'The Rip' is the track that has seduced me...it's tragically beautiful, melancholic and one of the best tracks that Beth Gibbons and co. have ever given us. Ahhh..."Those white horses...they will take me away..."
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Portishead- Third
Alright!!! 'Trip-Hop' trappings aside, is the album worth all the hype? It depends what side of the fence you're on. If you expect a deja-vu of prior albums then you'll be disappointed. If you expect evolution in the form of different tempos and minimal live sounding instrumentation then you wont be disappointed. It's not as terrifying as the eponymous sophomore album was(which I really have to be in the mood to listen to- and that doesn't happen too often) but it shows progression and an escape of the cliched sounds that Portishead could have fallen into. For those asking "WTF?" listen to 'Out Of Season' by Beth Gibbons and Rustin' Man and that should provide the missing link you so badly require. That album easily showcased Gibbons to be a truely talented and varied vocalist with a unique style tackling noir-ish retro acoustic backdrops. She easily sidestepped the pitfalls of "Trip-Hop diva" niche so many other groups still cling to (Sneaker Pimps, Morcheeba and Zero7 come to mind). So they've returned with a live sounding, simply arranged album that reclaims what they, Massive Attack and Tricky helped to usher in halfway through the 90's- music with no boundaries or genres to define it. It drew from every source it could get it's hands on. Old school synth, keyboards and drum machines are prevalent.
Songs like the opener 'Silence' remind us of the spy flick themes of yester-year, albeit faster and more intense. The tempo of 'Nylon Smile' conjures images of our protagonist running through a dense forest or jungle trying to escape- Another person. A memory. An emotion. While the first single 'Machine Gun' seems like a questionable choice, it's brilliance strikes once you get past the jarring rhythm pattern (which in the long run adds to the song's dynamics when taken in as a whole.). The tracks are infused with a spontaneity and live feel not heard on prior LPs. The song 'The Rip' is the track that has seduced me...it's tragically beautiful, melancholic and one of the best tracks that Beth Gibbons and co. have ever given us. Ahhh..."Those white horses...they will take me away..."
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