Portishead

[Tourist Tony]

Caught them on BBC iPlayer, Later with Jools. The first song didn't really grab me at first, the second wasn't too bad, but I was thinking "spent forxe".
Then their third song scared the shit out of me....very, very disturbing stuff.

[Noodley]

I'm surprised they are still about.

[clarion]

They're back with their fourth album: Third

Maconie & Radcliffe have been playing some of their stuff, and had 'the ones that aren't Beth' on teh programme this week.  Funny guys.

[LEE]

It's impossible for them to recreate that amazing debut on 'Later' (although I keep watching and hoping).

I sat totally transfixed (until the shops opened and I could buy Dummy).

Very occasionally, like that debut, you hear something absolutely new and brilliant.  Unfortunately for them Trip-Hop, Trance, Ambient has been done so much since then they can only really expect to sound like a Portishead tribute band.

OK, perfect time to stick Dummy on the iPod

[Bluebottle]

I've only heard snippets from their latest and it sounds a little hit and miss.

The John Martyn cover of Glory Box is something else!

[Noodley]

They're back with their fourth album: Third

Maconie & Radcliffe have been playing some of their stuff, and had 'the ones that aren't Beth' on teh programme this week.  Funny guys.

I only heard one of the tracks and M&R (as if that is their abbreviation!) were a bit sarky about it - I quite agreed that it did not sound "new".

[Frenchie]

Caught them on BBC iPlayer, Later with Jools. The first song didn't really grab me at first, the second wasn't too bad, but I was thinking "spent forxe".
Then their third song scared the shit out of me....very, very disturbing stuff.

Same here. A lot of hype, but poor music.

[tiermat]

I didn't like them on Later, it all seemed just too formulaic to me, "Machine Gun" was just one drum loop with a little bit of singing over it, nothing outstanding.  the other ones they did just left me cold.

I will admit I am a huge Portishead fan, but they will have to really really go some to beat "Mysterons" for me I'm afraid.

Oh and on the subject of it being called Third, they have only ever released two albums of original material, the "third2 album was a recording they made with NTC Phil, and that only contained songs from their first two albums!  Hence Third is the 3rd studio album.

[Tourist Tony]

Er....I have one called "Sour Times", variations on that song....

[Chris N]

Er....I have one called "Sour Times", variations on that song....

Was a single, I think.  Two CDs, with 5 tracks on each.  Blinding.

[PaulF]

I've found Third a real grower, bland at first but rewards with further listening

[bikenerd]

I've had the album for a fortnight.  I really like it.  It's different but the same as their previous stuff.  Won't get played at as many dinner parties as "Dummy", though.
They always sounded much better than their imitators, bringing in influences from jazz and modern classical.
I also thought Beth Gibbons solo folky album was very good as well.

[simonali]

Solo? What about Paul Webb?

[microphonie]

Just been listening to this for the last couple of hours. Verdict: very strong release - particularly The Rip, Machine Gun and We Carry On

  from me.