January 17, 2009
Portishead: Third
If you understand this review, you'll love this album.
Hypnotic, dark and full of emotion is the multifaceted approach to the sound of Portishead 3. Their musical reality is as original as it is challenging and poignant. The extended duo of Geoff & Beth exemplifies the realities we experience and pose a counterpoint to the human condition and the reality it possesses. Vocals haunt electronic beats, repetitive and slow to build, the architecture exudes a history of British and NYC ghosts throughout. Beth Gibbons' vocal envelops the atmosphere with dark beauty and it's effect takes hold deep in your soul. She emits a melancholy folk tradition to transcend time. A 1920's German Cabaret or 1930's Baltimore Brothel materializes and torch songs are belted out as you drown in the bottom of another cocktail. A retroactive application of 1960's psychedelic guitar and organ converge with sharp edges of electronic production, chunky constructions round off with orchestrated instrumentation. As you listen the wonderfully modern and twisted hybrid songs continue to confound and surprise. Elements of "Dummy" and "Portishead" remain present, though sometimes rough and raw. Portishead flirts with technology and accepts both emptiness and polished techniques to fully embrace creativity.