... The following day however I was taken aback with the announcement that this legendary band were soon to make a staggering return, how would I feel about the impending album Third?
I could spend the next few paragraphs telling you the wonder of Portishead in their long awaited return album ... Read review
Portishead'sThirdhas been a long time coming, the result of a lengthy creative topor ... more
following 1997's dark, distinctly underrated albumPortishead. Importantly, though, they've shaken it. While the core trio of Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utl...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Portishead'sThirdhas been a long time coming, the result of a lengthy creative topor ... more
following 1997's dark, distinctly underrated albumPortishead. Importantly, though, they've shaken it. While the core trio of Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utl...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Portishead's Third has been a long time coming, the result of a lengthy creative topor ... more
following 1997's dark, distinctly underrated album Portishead. Importantly, though, they've shaken it. While the core trio of Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 7 to 11 days...
Portishead's Third has been a long time coming, the result of a lengthy creative topor ... more
following 1997's dark, distinctly underrated album Portishead. Importantly, though, they've shaken it. While the core trio of Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Portishead's Third has been a long time coming, the result of a lengthy creative topor ... more
following 1997's dark, distinctly underrated album Portishead. Importantly, though, they've shaken it. While the core trio of Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utley remains, this is quite a different band to Portishead's 90s incarnation: gone is the slo-mo turntable scratching and smoky jazz feel, replaced by heavy, brooding rhythms, vintage-sounding electronics, and spindly guitar. Still present, though, is that sense of emotional fracture and deep gloom. "Silence" opens with a dense drum loop which suddenly falls away to reveal Gibbons' voice, cold but magnificent: "Wounded and afraid, inside my head/Falling through changes". "Nylon Smile", meanwhile, is a fine example of Third's occasional folksy edge, an acoustic song reminiscent of Leonard Cohen that, around its midpoint, lifts off on a propulsive electronic rhythm, Gibbons holding one clear, hard note as synthesisers bubble beneath. At times, it's a harsh and foreboding listen: the electronic drums of "Machine Gun" might put off the listener hoping for smooth dinner party fare. But Third is a brave and forward-thinking return, and one great enough to justify its lengthy gestation. --Louis Pattison
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Portishead'sThirdhas been a long time coming, the result of a lengthy creative topor ... more
following 1997's dark, distinctly underrated albumPortishead. Importantly, though, they've shaken it. While the core trio of Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utley remains, this is quite a different band to Portishead's 90s incarnation: gone is the slo-mo turntable scratching and smoky jazz feel, replaced by heavy, brooding rhythms, vintage-sounding electronics, and spindly guitar. Still present, though, is that sense of emotional fracture and deep gloom. "Silence" opens with a dense drum loop which suddenly falls away to reveal Gibbons' voice, cold but magnificent: "Wounded and afraid, inside my head/Falling through changes". "Nylon Smile", meanwhile, is a fine example ofThird's occasional folksy edge, an acoustic song reminiscent of Leonard Cohen that, around its midpoint, lifts off on a propulsive electronic rhythm, Gibbons holding one clear, hard note as synthesisers bubble beneath. At times, it's a harsh and foreboding listen: the electronic drums of "Machine Gun" might put off the listener hoping for smooth dinner party fare. ButThirdis a brave and forward-thinking return, and one great enough to justify its lengthy gestation.--Louis Pattison
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: The return of a forgotten band Disadvantages: Too cocky, bouncing off the back of a 14 year old album
...sound, and the music from Third is no exception to this rule.
As a whole I cannot say I am impressed with Third, there is a lot of stuff that sounds out of place, wrong in fact for today's market; while time has moved on it seems Portishead have stayed still with a very 1994 sounding album, I guess almost attempting to recreate the magic of Dummy. Now off the back of this statement however it may come as a surprise to hear me say (or ... ...the strength and power of Third in these opening scores, but as the album continues it's almost like Barrow and co musician Adrian Utley have gone hope leaving Gibbons quite literally to play with herself.
Fourteen years ago Portishead had justifiable right in being cocky, every score from Dummy has been used for something movie promotion, television show trails, adverts, and the abysmal Big Brother. Fourteen years on and the influence ... more
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 all of whom had never heard of the band or so they thought. Having played Dummy to them later that night they for the most part all confessed that they had heard almost every score from the album, I was asked what had happened to them, explaining I did not know. The following day however I was taken aback with the announcement that this legendary band were soon to make a staggering return, how would I feel about the impending album Third?
I could spend the next few paragraphs telling you the wonder of Portishead in their long awaited return album but I'll spare you. This self proclaimed "Trip Hop" band who mix contemporary sound with almost classical movie soundtrack style scores have an incredibly distinctive sound, and the music from Third is no exception to this rule.
As a whole I cannot say I am impressed with Third, there is a lot of stuff that sounds out of place, wrong in fact for today's market; while time has moved on it seems Portishead have stayed still with a very 1994 sounding album, I guess almost attempting to recreate the magic of Dummy. Now off the back of this statement however it may come as a surprise to hear me say (or at least read me say) that if you enjoyed Portishead then you will love this album, and if you like your musical styles a little wider reaching the same applies, because while 9 of the albums tracks are fairly dated 2 absolutely "rocked" in my opinion and support my purchase 100%.
Silence - The first score on the album is like a time travelling exorcise to the Portishead I knew and loved, the best way to describe this is "Thumping"; yes this a highly repetitive score, going over the same few guitar and drum beats over and over again, almost to the level that you could believe the devil has just arrived in your room. Two minutes in the haunting sound of Beth Gibbons arrives, singing quite frankly bollocks, sorry for the harshness of my words but this is a true fact, yes she sounds great but for the most part her ramblings are either an attempt to be on a higher intellectual plain than you, or at least to paint the perception that she is. But it's that haunting score that then comes back to the forefront that I love so very much; it's an angry malevolent piece that screams "I'm here, I'm the daddy, I'm taking no prisoners!" At just over five minutes of running time, the intensity and addictiveness of this piece of music make it pass in a heartbeat..."BANG" its gone, and rather abruptly too.
Hunter - This was what caught my attention this past Monday as I entered HMV, this is so very typical Portishead, Beth singing almost like she is breathing her last breaths. This is a haunting score as she twists and convults her voice in a stark contrast to the backing music, I know this does not sound good; but believe me this is the thing that makes this score track sound so phenomenally good. "If I should fall, would you hold me, would you pass me by?" The lyrics make far more sense this time, although there is a rather a lot of contradictions, but this is Portishead surely making this acceptable? "I wanted a rise, and space me in ties" yes I'm not hearing things! I love the fact that at the end of each verse there is this nice ditzy noise that sounds like 60's TV villains weapon of destruction being activated. There is something so incredibly addictive about this track, I replayed it again, and again, and again.
As the two opening pieces of the CD, I was overwhelmed by the album, sadly the follow up is less substantial and if I might be so bold, quite repetitive, tedious, and a little bit cocky. Personally I find the strength and power of Third in these opening scores, but as the album continues it's almost like Barrow and co musician Adrian Utley have gone hope leaving Gibbons quite literally to play with herself.
Fourteen years ago Portishead had justifiable right in being cocky, every score from Dummy has been used for something movie promotion, television show trails, adverts, and the abysmal Big Brother. Fourteen years on and the influence of Dummy still is frequently heard Mysterons and Sour Times being the most commonly used. And while Dummy still influences, Portishead the second album was a disappointment and a disaster, and Portishead are seemingly wanting to you forgive, and forget that album hoping you'll still believe them to be Gods. In my opinion they need to regain their trust with the public, and if the first two scores were a reflection of the album as a whole then they have the right to come back cocky. While I enjoy the first two scores, more so in fact than anything I have heard for maybe as long ago as years, this is only about 15% of the albums output, not really good value. That being said the album scores high in my book; welcome back Portishead just don't get your big heads jammed in the door.
Advantages: Strangely addictive, compelling and in equal parts mysterious and haunting Disadvantages: Takes a couple of listens to really appreciate it's brilliance
...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 keen on their ... ...the whole listening experience of THIRD to a beautiful and contemplative end. I don't want to say much more about them because I feel that part of the enjoyment of listening to a new album is the journey of discovery that the listener goes on as they attempt to make sense of the lyrics, but suffice to say, the album's climax lives up to all of it's potential and leaves the listener wanting more which is always a good sign. It is disappointing that ...
sparkymarky1973 22.05.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Third - Portishead
Advantages: First new LP in over a decade Disadvantages: Terrible lyrics
Portishead - Third (Island Records)
The release of Third by Portishead has been imbued with a heavy cultural significance. It has been reviewed on the Late Review, generated acres of coverage in the music press and broadsheet newspapers and there is a growing online buzz. It feels less like a release more an event.
In a music scene so deprived of anything approaching sonic innovation, there is a desperate desire for Third to be an audio panacea. ... ...hissing grooves of Dummy.
Third is much closer to the disappointing harsh metallic sounds of the bands second LP. The songs are overloaded with heavy bleeding synths, high whining strings, heavy strained rhythm patterns and a far too many turgid guitars.
Yes Third is dense but devoid of tension. It aims to be abrasive and harsh but comes across merely ingenuous and brash. You get the feeling that the band where aiming for something edgy, maybe ...
highwayfive 23.05.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Third - Portishead
More than a decade after its self-titled sophomore outing, the pioneering British electronica ensemble Portishead finally resurfaced with 2008's THIRD, an album that both meets and defies expectations. Although the record features many of the group's aural signatures--most notably that exquisitely dark, cinematic mood and Beth Gibbons's heartbreaking vocals--it presents little in the way of vintage trip-hop, proving that sonic masterminds Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley aren't keen on repeating themselves. "Silence" kicks off the affair with tumbling percussion loops, while "Nylon Smile" drifts along on spare, slinky instrumentation, and "Machine Gun" moves to jarringly martial metrics that are battlefields away from any pop arena. Though THIRD is initially disorienting, repeated listens reveal a deeply engaging and fascinating album that stays true to the melancholy spirit of Portishead even as it wanders into unfamiliar territory.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.80) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "THIRD is an unexpected yet totally impressive return.....Portishead mix up dub, break beats, cathedral organ, Moroccan drones and even surf rock into a headphone album for sour times." Entertainment Weekly (p.119) - "Beth Gibbons' spectral vocals linger atop eerie, warped pulses of music to create a swirl of melancholia." -- Grade: B+ Alternative Press (p.136) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Listening to Portishead has always been like floating through a waking dream, but now the sleek edges have atrophied into a dusty chaos, and it's all the more beautiful and perfect for the change."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Silence
2.
Hunter
3.
Nylon Smile
4.
Rip
5.
Plastic
6.
We Carry On
7.
Deep Water
8.
Machine Gun
9.
Small
10.
Magic Doors
11.
Threads
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
31/01/2008
Compare Third - Portishead to other similar Electronic »
On the limmited edition it has all the music videos on it as well! An excellent touch I think!
The cover is the only downside that I have found, it looks nice now but after time it's going to be a bit scruffy as it's made like a hard back book with no plastic covering. (*)