Portishead Brings The Noise (And The Noisy Percussion) On Some New Tunes
Captured on stage at All Tomorrow’s Parties, this new track is a more violent Portishead than we’ve maybe ever heard before, with Mssrs. Utley and Barrow throwing down on some sick Test Dept./DAF brand electronic drumming and Ms. Gibbons in suitably ethereal voice within the din. (The YouTube rip and the live recording may add a bit to the tune’s harshness.) Surprised? Well wait, there’s more.
MP3s of three new songs (also recorded live at ATP) are available at Deaf Indie Elephants, and aside from the one captured in the video (No. 2), the first has a roiling beat that’s making me think of Can on the first listen, with a sinister break and a particularly witchy Gibbon contribution, and the third is similarly tense and Kraut-ish with a nasty analogue drone buzzing throughout. Of course, all criticisms, descriptions, and outlandish comparisons to art-rockers past are subject to actually hearing studio versions, but if you’re not excited for the band’s (supposedly still forthcoming in ’08) new album yet, think about getting at least a little amped on this evidence.
Portishead @ ATP [Deaf Indie Elephants]
