676 Portishead - Third (2008)

 676 Portishead - Third (2008)

Studio Album - Experimental Rock



About the Act:

Portishead are a band from Bristol who were one of the first proponents of  trip hop. There first album came out in 1994, and they have released two others since.

About the Album:

This was their third (and most recent) album that was released after a haitus of 11 years.

My History with this Album:

I have a copy of this album but have rarely listened to it.

Review:

I have enjoyed Portishead's other two albums in the past, and around the time they were "current". If I remember rightly, this album was somewhat controversial at the time amongst Portishead fans, because it didn't sound like the old ones. That may be why I've not listened to it much.

It's not an easy listen. It's harsh and uncompromising. Not in a heavy metal kind of way, but in an industrial electronica kind of way. Interestingly, there are a couple of tracks that are not like that, but are acoustic (for example ukulele and voice). The overriding feel is one of disconcertedness, that something is out of kilter. Often this is the sounds used, that are mildly odd, sometimes jarring. I think that Portishead were the first band I came across that were described as "lo-fi" - deliberately the opposite of rich, lush, and well-produced, so using sounds that seem to be recorded in the 1940s, compressed dynamic and tonal ranges, the acceptance of scratched records for sapling off. This album is different in that it has moved away from the obviously sampled sounds, but still retains a lo-fi feel. This means also that when obvious real instruments are played, they are not as fluent as you might expect, more hesitant and with mistakes left in that most recordings would edit out. Often the diconcerting nature is also this is the discordant nature of the notes, and unusual harmonies. Not everything is exactly in tune all the time, but it is obvious that these things are deliberate. Sometimes, but less often, the rhythms are unusual too. 

All in all this makes it a challenging listen at times.

However, there is one more aspect that I have not mentioned, and that is the voice of Beth Gibbons. Portishead could not be Portishead without her, or at least somebody like her. Her voice is clear and sweet and fragile and expressive, although often that expression is deliberately muted. It may be that I think this because I have listened to earlier albums from Portishead more, but I think her voice is well-suited to be the anchor for the subversive backing, in the same way that flowers growing in a ruined building create an evocative picture, and I would (pretentiously) claim that this album has that exact same aesthetic.

The words - somewhat disturbing at times, but mostly play second fiddle to the aesthetic.

I like it. I respect it quite a lot. However, it is still not an easy listen, and not to everybody's taste. I would have to be in the right mood to actually enjoy it.

7/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/18JyZd2XLdT2rmekw6EwoS

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH1JGOJgZ2u2PbImAm-J6RsBnLRL_bYCA

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_(Portishead_album)



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