Third - Portishead

Portishead took their time in relaesing "Third" - the release prior to Third was Portishead by Portishead back in 1999 - but it seems that they have spent the time wisely, honing their sound. I do not think that any fans of Portishead would ever expect them to be universally loved or to create music that everyone enjoys. Their music is challenging, much in the same way Amnesiac shook us to have a rethink about the dircetion of music generally. The album admittedly does take a good few listens to really grab the imagination. There are some obvious immediate stand out tracks - The Rip is both beautiful and haunting while Machine Gun is oddly ...  Read the complete review

Oh, but it's been a long, long wait for all us PORTISHEAD fans.....many of us no doubt thought another album would never be forthcoming but, 11 years after we last had a studio album, here we have a treat for sore ears in the guise of THIRD; the aptly named third album that is in fact the fourth from the band if you choose to include the live album recorded in New York with a full-scale symphony orchestra. So, has it been worth the wait? It would be easy to say no after such a notable absence but in fact, I actually am starting to really, really like this and think it is a contender for their best album yet. There were many of their fans who initially were not ...  Read the complete review

It's been a long time since the name Portishead really meant anything in the music industry 11 years in fact since there last new releases, and ten since their live in NYC album. But back in 1994 Portishead had such impact on the music industry with their album Dummy and subsequent short movie To Kill A Dead Man, that you can almost believe they have never been away at all. After the disappointment of their album the self titled Portishead it was hard to believe that anything could match up to the power of Dummy. When Geoff Barrow (producer/song writer for Portishead) recently turned up in my hotel I had to explain to my staff exactly the power of Portishead ...  Read the complete review

After a decade in the making, Portishead returned with their eagerly waited and anticipated third album, appropriately titled Third. Taking a step back for a decade really helped Portishead perfect their art, and are now pretty much untouchable and stand as one of the best bands in Britain. While Portishead were known for their unique take on the "trip-hop" sound for their first two albums, in Third they delivered something very different and original, yet didn't stray away completely from the old sound they are renowned for. The first single from the album was 'Machine Gun'. having a sort of industrial/avant garde sound to it, with ...  Read the complete review

Among the first to bring Trip-Hop to music lovers, Portishead also put their hometown of Geoff Barrow on the British map. Many of us had never heard of the shipping town before they came along. They take their influence from bands like Tricky and Massive attack and I really think that this album goes back to those roots but with reminiscent air of darkness and a tinge of malice (you will hear what I mean in the introduction track 'Silence'. Beth Gibbons' vocals in this album are still as strong and haunting as they have always been and she really does help to drive the intent behind the music home to the listeners. Although I really ...  Read the complete review