Genre: Electronica
Style: Trip hop, Downtempo
One can never talk about Trip Hop without first mentioning Massive Attack and Portishead. As one of the early champions and possibly the band that further refined the Trip Hop genre first laid out by Massive Attack. Solidifying and expanding on what was known as the Bristolian Sound, comes Dummy the debut album that pushed Trip Hop further into the collective consciousness of the nineties.
With an expansive influence drawing from dub, jazz and hip hop. Portishead has created a strong debut with a heavy Gothic, melancholic sound. With clever use of live strings, Rhodes piano and jazz samples the album plays more like a soundtrack to an old time noir or spy movie. Beth Gibbons’ (Vocalist) frail and smooth contralto vocals will lull you into a sense of false security. She’s the dame singing in the smoky jazz club that you’ve arrived for your secret rendezvous. The one who doesn’t demand your attention, doesn’t even crave it and yet you give it anyway, cause you’ve been spellbound.
The lyrics are dark and brooding, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You will need a glass of whisky after this one.
Essential Tracks: “Sour Times” “It Could Be Sweet” “Glory Box”
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