Portishead - Dummy
Dummy by Portishead was released almost exactly 30 years ago (August 22, 1994 to be exact). It was game-changing, genre-defining, and virtually an instant-classic. Dummy received almost universal critical acclaim, and the high praise it received has proven to be not only well-deserved but those accolades have also stood the test of time. It's a masterful debut LP. It's gentle and it knocks hard. It still sounds different and fresh, and can give you chills as it makes your head nod.
Dummy is is many things at once. It's socially dense yet feels sparse and open. It's icy but feels emotional. It's futuristic yet has nostalgic elements; familiar sounds, samples, textures and lyrical ideas totally reimagined and seeming to live in their own universe. The mix of styles (hiphop, jazz, soundtrack / film noir type vibes, slowed-down-funk & blues) works perfectly. And the blending of samples, loops, live instruments and the incredible vocals of Beth Gibbons makes for an intoxicating sound that really envelopes the listener.
Portishead released 2 more great studio albums, as well as an astonishingly good live album / film (Roseland NYC Live). All three members (Gibbons, Geoff Barrow & Adrian Utley) continue to make challenging & creative music. The music they made as Portishead will no doubt inspire repeated listens, and attract new fans for decades and beyond. Unique and undoubtedly a modern classic, Dummy still knocks hard.
Dummy by Portishead was released almost exactly 30 years ago (August 22, 1994 to be exact). It was game-changing, genre-defining, and virtually an instant-classic. Dummy received almost universal critical acclaim, and the high praise it received has proven to be not only well-deserved but those accolades have also stood the test of time. It's a masterful debut LP. It's gentle and it knocks hard. It still sounds different and fresh, and can give you chills as it makes your head nod.
Dummy is is many things at once. It's socially dense yet feels sparse and open. It's icy but feels emotional. It's futuristic yet has nostalgic elements; familiar sounds, samples, textures and lyrical ideas totally reimagined and seeming to live in their own universe. The mix of styles (hiphop, jazz, soundtrack / film noir type vibes, slowed-down-funk & blues) works perfectly. And the blending of samples, loops, live instruments and the incredible vocals of Beth Gibbons makes for an intoxicating sound that really envelopes the listener.
Portishead released 2 more great studio albums, as well as an astonishingly good live album / film (Roseland NYC Live). All three members (Gibbons, Geoff Barrow & Adrian Utley) continue to make challenging & creative music. The music they made as Portishead will no doubt inspire repeated listens, and attract new fans for decades and beyond. Unique and undoubtedly a modern classic, Dummy still knocks hard.
Dummy by Portishead was released almost exactly 30 years ago (August 22, 1994 to be exact). It was game-changing, genre-defining, and virtually an instant-classic. Dummy received almost universal critical acclaim, and the high praise it received has proven to be not only well-deserved but those accolades have also stood the test of time. It's a masterful debut LP. It's gentle and it knocks hard. It still sounds different and fresh, and can give you chills as it makes your head nod.
Dummy is is many things at once. It's socially dense yet feels sparse and open. It's icy but feels emotional. It's futuristic yet has nostalgic elements; familiar sounds, samples, textures and lyrical ideas totally reimagined and seeming to live in their own universe. The mix of styles (hiphop, jazz, soundtrack / film noir type vibes, slowed-down-funk & blues) works perfectly. And the blending of samples, loops, live instruments and the incredible vocals of Beth Gibbons makes for an intoxicating sound that really envelopes the listener.
Portishead released 2 more great studio albums, as well as an astonishingly good live album / film (Roseland NYC Live). All three members (Gibbons, Geoff Barrow & Adrian Utley) continue to make challenging & creative music. The music they made as Portishead will no doubt inspire repeated listens, and attract new fans for decades and beyond. Unique and undoubtedly a modern classic, Dummy still knocks hard.