Portishead: Third
by Caser
In spare moments, I dream of the horror film I'd like to produce: harrowing, soul-piercing work that leaves viewers devoid of hope in 90 short minutes. The soundtrack is always the same; Beth Gibbons, lead vocalist of Portishead, sings unaccompanied, warbling in despair and moaning in her peerless croon. Portishead's first release in eleven years, Third, is not far from this vision, especially in Gibbons' contributions, but its sound is sharply different than their trip-hop prototype of the late '90s. The lush textures and high-production remain, but the breakbeats have been outmoded, morphing into experimental percussion more Steve Reich than Tricky. Plenty of surprises, each darker than the last, await the listener throughout this record, so take a listen today.
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