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]
Nice. I always thought that live they were just a much different, more raging beast, based on the couple of times I saw them, and it’s good to see that this hasn’t changed. Can’t wait for the album.
While we tread water, it seems dastardly not to note that Idolator has pointed us in the direction of ATP Festival footage of honest to God, new Portishead material! To whit: Also, ripped mp3′s to be ravaged from Deaf Indie Elephants.
Indeed, the world needs more Portishead.
Things are looking good for ’08 so far then.
Damn, this got me all tingly.
Between seeing them live, the PNYC album/DVD and clips like this, I think Portishead would do better to just release live albums instead of toning it down for the studio.
oh, you know this new album is going to breed some HATE… people tend to never latch on the the sinister elements of Portishead, and lump them in with the sleepy hazy trip hop of yore. (which was not at all bad before “chill-out” came to the fore…. yuck) This album is going to be amazing. If Two Lone Swordsmen can go straight skuzzy rockabilly, then Portishead can certainly go industrial.
Shit. The video’s down already. Those mp3s have me itching for more though.