Portishead – Dummy (1994)

There aren’t many times when a completely new musical direction emerges, most builds on a slowly emerging movement of like-minded bands or artists.   Emerging out of the late 80s Bristol music scene and incorporating some hip-hop sounds such as scratching this band, a trio really, Beth Gibbons, vocals – Adrian Utley, guitar and multi-instrumentalist Geoff Barrow along with a Dave McDonald, an audio engineer who refined their sound and produced their first two albums.  I first heard them, not knowing anything about them on the BBC2 Series ‘This Life’…this album was practically the soundtrack.  The album was an instant hit with Beth’s yearning understated singing and the trip-hop instrumental backing it seemed to fit them mood in the early nineties.  They have since only released two further albums and one live release and appear to be on permanent leave.  But we still have those albums.