Third by Portishead is probably one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Portishead fans have waited 11 years since their last studio album. As the title suggests Third is indeed their third studio album and follows in the wake of their fist album, the widely acclaimed and Mercury Music Prize winning Dummy
, and their second album, the self titled Portishead
.
I am no musician so this won't be a musical critique, much more a look at how the albums works for me as a fan of the first two Portishead albums.
Some of the rhythms and beats in this album create a very original sound, quite different from much of their previous work and anything else around at the moment. Even so, there is still plenty of variation within the album. Porishead's familiar, slower beats are still hinted at but developed into a newer sound, less quintessentially Portishead. A welcome move as the sound of early 'Portishead' is now so well known and often humorously imitated; a very funny Bill Bailly sketch comes to mind.
The first track has a close, fast, almost 'camp-fire rite' sound to it. But elsewhere in the album the sound is much more modern, but still very unique in it's rhythm, as in the case of 'Machine Gun'. Often, the tracks are quite harsh sounding; stimulating rather than passive listening. A lot of this album is not easy listening. It's often challenging, dark and even somewhat depressing, depending on your own frame of mind!
As a whole though the albums takes you on a journey, through dark as well as light. The melancholy, evocative and beautifully melodic beginning of 'The Rip' develops into a soaring, empowering explosion of a high vocal note that extends over a synth riff and satisfying beat. Another tack of note is 'Deep Water' which has a very simple, acoustic sound to it. It's short at 1:33 but it's a lovely song with a brilliant melody.
The melodies and use of chords across all of the tracks is accomplished and moving. 'Magic Doors' for example is a brilliant track with a great sound. You'll appreciate hearing this album loud and on a decent sound system/headphones. As with all good melodies the songs get better after a few listens. Once you know how a particular phrase will resolve you feel more at-one with the music and it's enjoyability increases.
This album is definitely worth listening to if you're a fan of earlier Portishead and I suspect it will also bring in a new audience that will prefer this to their older music. Each track seems to go through very distinct and rewarding stages and a few have very quirky endings, simply cutting off in what appears to be a seemingly random position. 'Small' and 'Silence' do this for example. I actually wondered if there was a problem the tracks which I bought from iTunes but others have confirmed it is supposed to like that.
Where to buy
You can buy Portishead Third from 
UK, USA, Amazon.co.uk
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