Portishead

Universal • 2023

Portishead has released a 25th anniversary remastered and expanded edition of their live album, Roseland NYC Live, featuring three tracks previously only available in the concert film: “Undenied,” “Numb,” and “Western Eyes.” The majority of the album was recorded live at the now-defunct New York City venue, Roseland with the core band accompanied by an orchestra. The remainder of the songs were recorded at the Warfield in San Fransisco and the Quart Festival in Norway. Beth Gibbons is an icon of originality and versatility which shines throughout the album. The arrangements imbue a film noir charisma over Gibbons’ ghostly and gossamer vocals. The album sounds full with the accompaniment of wind instruments and acoustic percussion over turntable beats and theremin extenuating the existential drift of the already sultry, dreamy, lounge atmosphere. This is one of my favorite acts of all time and I appreciate the fact that they refuse to release sub par music.

“I can’t believe it’s 25 years since Roseland,” vocalist Beth Gibbons wrote on Instagram. “It was such a scary but exciting time for me. It was the first time we had played our new tracks since Dummy and knowing it was being recorded meant I didn’t sleep much in the nights before.”

10/10