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Portishead Ditches Trip-Hop for Psychedelic Rock
28 Aug
Summary
- Portishead's 'Third' marks a significant departure from their trip-hop roots.
- The album explores psychedelic rock with diverse sonic elements.
- Beth Gibbons' distinctive vocals adapt to the new, darker lyrical themes.

After an 11-year absence, Portishead has unveiled 'Third,' an album signifying a radical yet natural reinvention. The band has deliberately moved away from its trip-hop origins, embracing a psychedelic rock sound. This sonic shift is anchored by Beth Gibbons' versatile vocals, which adeptly navigate the album's bleak lyrical themes of isolation and helplessness.
'Third' features a diverse musical palette, diverging significantly from Portishead's previous work. Tracks incorporate jarring rhythms, dissonant instrumentation, and influences ranging from industrial and free jazz to folk. This new direction is evident in singles like 'Machine Gun' and explores varied emotional expressions through Gibbons' adaptable vocal delivery.