Third (Portishead, 2008)

[X.]

Portishead have made only two other albums, Dummy and Portishead; but their reputation and influence as the sole band that brought trip-hop to the public consciousness is well-known. Artists like Goldfrapp, Sneaker Pimps, UNKLE and Morceeba basically owe them their careers.

Now, it has taken this Bristol band about 10 long years to release a new album, appropriately titled Third. So what happened? Life, personal projects and a general disdain for media all account for both their unblemished popularity among music geeks and a cathartic hiatus. Yet they're back: older, fatter...but wiser.

Third is a record that is angry and brave and totally experimental; and it fucking rocks! The years away from each other seemed to have helped Geoff Barrow, Beth Gibbons and Adrian Utley: this album retains the adventurous electronic sound from their previous two studio albums, but gone is the relic of the 90s, turntable scratching, and in is a more garage-rock driven sound -- ala White Stripes, the Ravonettes and elk -- layered with Barrow's relentless electronic assaults and caked with Beth Gibbon's exquisitely morose vocals.

There is no shortage of diversity on Third, as the band try out various approaches without compromising their trademark eclecticism. The modern sound is crossed with folk, especially obvious on the track "Deep Water" that functions as the perfect in-betweener to the savagely ferocious "Machine Gun," the first single, and "We Carry On." Heck, there's even a nod to Ennio Morricone on "Small," a trippy 80's John Carpenter-esque organ ender to "Machine Gun" and some free jazz flourishes in "Magic Doors," which instantly brought back memories of Radiohead's similar tests in Kid A.

I think Third is Portishead's best work, worth the decade long wait, and perhaps, a shoo-in for one of the very best albums of 2008. I am kicking myself for missing them play at Coachella (among infinite, other glorious bands; next year, then; no excuses; promise).

Favorite tracks: Each and every track; but I want to specifically mention "Silence," "We Carry On," "Deep Water," "Magic Doors" and my absolute favorite track "Threats."

[madali]

Third (Portishead, 2008)

Soft female singing over electronic, industrial music, gives "Third" a unique sound. There is no joy in the album, the atmosphere invokes a cold, lifeless existence, maybe a heartfelt album by a future world derived of human live, habited only by robots.

It is not easy to listen to. While it might be atmospheric and you can get yourself lost in the music, the question that comes up in my head, is why should I want to? This is not a world that I would want to get lost into. The songs are a bit hypnotic, pulling you towards it, but it is not a state I want to be in. Resisting against the album only seems to show another side of the album and that is it ultimately dull to me.

2/5

[fizz]

When do you review the new Radiohead album? Some of the tracks are WOW.

[madali]

Like most of the things I do, I got myself stuck. When I came to Iran, I got the best albums for the last few years, as designated by Pitchfork reviews (probably the most famous music review site, and at the same time, the most annoyingly pretenious, seriously, just read their music reviews). Each year was 50 albums, I think.

I've been in Iran for 1.5 years, and I still havent finished reviewing the 2008 ones.

[fizz]

Drop everything you've go on your list for now and just get the album. I want to know what you (and even ak) have to say about it.

[X.]

Fizz, you referring to KING OF LIMBS? Man, it seems like ages since I listened to that one! It's an elegant and richly-textured electronica/dance album...and what I like about it the most is how -- despite the detailed layers of sounds -- each note, the instrumentation and Yorke's vocals stand out with crystal-clear clarity. LIMBS is one of the best realization of minimalism (in the same sense that Phillip Glass is the most luxurious and minimalist composer). Have you heard the remixes from LIMBS?

Is it better than IN RAINBOWS? I don't know. IN RAINBOWS got a brooding overtone that's just a mild undertone in LIMBS. LIMBS is certainly different; more dance-y.

[fizz]

Yes, I was referring to Limbs. I agree with your description about its use of minimal beats (mostly bass based - used inventively) and its description as a dance/electronica album. I was surprised by how much I liked it. I can't decide if its better than Rainbows either but they are oh so different (even though the tunes on both sound typical of Radiohead). My favourite tracks are the ethereal Give up the ghost, where they sound like....Sigur Ros and of course Codex, the lyrics of which are haunting, absolutely haunting. Pure Brilliance.

[fizz]

I had no idea Limbs had a remix...I will search for it.

[madali]

Fizz, I'm not really a fan of Radiohead. I think I've listened to all their albums (except this one, and I think I havent even listened to Rainbows), but I think I just like the song Paranoid Android. Since I used to be a huge fan of early prog rock, Radiohead always seemed to me like a pale imitation of them.