Third
Portishead
2008
by Roy Luckett
June 24th, 2008
Okay, 11 years is a long break between albums. And when the artist is Portishead, the expectations are immense. It’s kind of like Indiana Jones — he was gone so long that we never thought there would ever be another sequel. While I have yet to see the new Indy sequel, I think Portishead’s approach to this album is very intelligent. It’s as if they totally abandoned their trip-hop ties to explore a different musical path. Sure, the dark atmospherics are still there, and maybe it’s me, but I think Beth Gibbons’ bluesy voice gets better and better. But it is a departure. Instead of a jazzy electronic album with hip hop elements, it is more like a psychedelic rock album with electronic undertones. They even throw in some folksy numbers for good measure. I know some Portishead fans are upset because it is very different from their last two albums. Initially, I was upset as well. But the more I listened to it and accepted the fact that it was not going to represent the past, the more I appreciated and loved it. Besides, there are so many gems here; “Silence” is a slow burn that is incredibly sleepy in this scope, yet it’s deceptively poignant. I love the electro elements in “The Rip,” and “We Carry On” has a wicked guitar riff that will grab your attention. At the end of the day, it’s an album that rewards those who embrace repeated listens. I am humbly grateful that they have returned; after 11 years, I didn’t think they would.
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Person Pitch
Panda Bear
2007
by Roy Luckett
February 21st, 2008
When I hear this album, I think of Beach Boys harmonies intertwined with a trippy, abstract kaleidoscope of sound. It’s really quite extraordinary — hypnotic, peaceful, and beautifully strange at the same time.
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