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Portishead|Dummy

Dummy

Portishead

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Portishead's album debut is a brilliant, surprisingly natural synthesis of claustrophobic spy soundtracks, dark breakbeats inspired by frontman Geoff Barrow's love of hip-hop, and a vocalist (Beth Gibbons) in the classic confessional singer/songwriter mold. Beginning with the otherworldly theremin and martial beats of "Mysterons," Dummy hits an early high with "Sour Times," a post-modern torch song driven by a Lalo Schifrin sample. The chilling atmospheres conjured by Adrian Utley's excellent guitar work and Barrow's turntables and keyboards prove the perfect foil for Gibbons, who balances sultriness and melancholia in equal measure. Occasionally reminiscent of a torchier version of Sade, Gibbons provides a clear focus for these songs, with Barrow and company behind her laying down one of the best full-length productions ever heard in the dance world. Where previous acts like Massive Attack had attracted dance heads in the main, Portishead crossed over to an American, alternative audience, connecting with the legion of angst-ridden indie fans as well. Better than any album before it, Dummy merged the pinpoint-precise productions of the dance world with pop hallmarks like great songwriting and excellent vocal performances.

© John Bush /TiVo

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Dummy

Portishead

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1
Mysterons
00:05:04

Geoff Barrow, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Beth Gibbons, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

2
Sour Times
00:04:11

Geoff Barrow, Music Production, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Guitar, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Beth Gibbons, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist - Dave McDonald, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Neil Solman, Hammond Organ, Rhodes , AssociatedPerformer

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

3
Strangers
00:03:57

Geoff Barrow, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Wayne Shorter, ComposerLyricist - Beth Gibbons, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

4
It Could Be Sweet
00:04:16

Geoff Barrow, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Producer - Beth Gibbons, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

5
Wandering Star
00:04:52

Geoff Barrow, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Producer - Lee Oskar, ComposerLyricist - Gerald Goldstein, ComposerLyricist - Lonnie Le Roy Jordan, ComposerLyricist - Howard E. Scott, ComposerLyricist - Beth Gibbons, ComposerLyricist - Thomas Sylvester Allen, ComposerLyricist - Morris Dewayne Dickerson, ComposerLyricist - Charles William Miller, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist - Harold Ray Brown, ComposerLyricist

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

6
It's A Fire
00:03:45

Geoff Barrow, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Beth Gibbons, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

7
Numb
00:03:54

Geoff Barrow, Drums, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Bass Guitar, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gary Baldwin, Rhodes , AssociatedPerformer - Beth Gibbons, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Clive Deamer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist - Dave McDonald, Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

8
Roads
00:05:03

Geoff Barrow, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Beth Gibbons, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

9
Pedestal
00:03:39

Geoff Barrow, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Beth Gibbons, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

10
Biscuit
00:05:01

Geoff Barrow, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Producer - Beth Gibbons, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

11
Glory Box (Album Version)
00:05:07

Geoff Barrow, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Utley, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Isaac Hayes, ComposerLyricist - Beth Gibbons, ComposerLyricist - Portishead, Producer, MainArtist - Dave McDonald, Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 1994 Go! Discs Ltd.

Album review

Portishead's album debut is a brilliant, surprisingly natural synthesis of claustrophobic spy soundtracks, dark breakbeats inspired by frontman Geoff Barrow's love of hip-hop, and a vocalist (Beth Gibbons) in the classic confessional singer/songwriter mold. Beginning with the otherworldly theremin and martial beats of "Mysterons," Dummy hits an early high with "Sour Times," a post-modern torch song driven by a Lalo Schifrin sample. The chilling atmospheres conjured by Adrian Utley's excellent guitar work and Barrow's turntables and keyboards prove the perfect foil for Gibbons, who balances sultriness and melancholia in equal measure. Occasionally reminiscent of a torchier version of Sade, Gibbons provides a clear focus for these songs, with Barrow and company behind her laying down one of the best full-length productions ever heard in the dance world. Where previous acts like Massive Attack had attracted dance heads in the main, Portishead crossed over to an American, alternative audience, connecting with the legion of angst-ridden indie fans as well. Better than any album before it, Dummy merged the pinpoint-precise productions of the dance world with pop hallmarks like great songwriting and excellent vocal performances.

© John Bush /TiVo

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