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.
A clarion call for the trip hop movement, the 1994 release of Portishead's Dummy put Bristol, England on the musical map. Sinister, moody soundscapes like "Glory Box" were tailor-made for spy movies, but too good to be Bond themes.The tune cops the descending bassline and weepy strings from Isaac Hayes' "Ike's Rap II", and adds an insistent snare and vinyl scratches, striking a phenomenal, atmo...
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This track eerily captures the simultaneous attraction and repulsion the female singer feels about the object of her desire. The usual sublime choice of sampled beat and bassline by the Sheffield lads. This track was used in the movie "Lord of War" in the scene where Nicholas Cage is given a GIFT by the Sierra Leone warlord whom he is arming to the hilt. A Naomi and Tyra look alike clad in noth...
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of all my many addictions, there is only one that i am proud to admit publicly: portishead. ive had this addiction for almost five years and im sure it will last well into my future. as im sure most of you know, addiction can make people feel lonely and vulnerable, sort of like...a stranger. so why dont we get acquainted?beth gibbons, you make me glad that i am a man.
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So don't you stop, being a man Just take a little look from our side when you can Sow a little tenderness No matter if you cry Give me a reason to love you Give me a reason to be ee, a woman I just wanna be a woman So i wanna be desire of a woman For this is the beginning of forever and ever Its time to move over So I wanna be give me a reason to love you.....give me a reason ...to be....a woma...
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Of the many things that music does for me, it helps me complete meaningless chores like laundry or mowing the lawn. Today I had to mow the back yard for a final time of the season. Wasn't looking forward to it at all, but I knew that my tunes would be there to support me during my trials and tribulations. When I heard Beth Gibbons of Portishead belt out her sweat voice in the song 'Roads' I ...
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I think when Mog was down on Friday it ate some of my posts. My post on the Marie Antoinette soundtrack is gone, and so is my lovely post about a Christmas Song mix CD I plan on making. Oh well. In this post I will discuss the CD I'm listening to right at this moment. I know everyone is on the edge of her seat in anticipation of what CD it could possibly be.DummyPortisheadWhen I first heard...
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i listened to DUMMY for the first time this week.wonderful.the whole album is like an audio version ofswimming at night.allmusic.com 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....
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Lush, sexy, downtempo music that you can't help but love. Portishead takes me back to late nights in college, driving with the windows down in the middle of the night.If you enjoy Massive Attack, Tricky, and Goldfrapp, you'll surely love (and probably already love) Portishead.
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Those of you that were on here at this time last year remember all the talk of MOGachella, how so many of us would congregate there. A lot of you did. I, however, did a lot of talking but ultimately did not deliver the goods.Not this year.I'm not missing this kind of goodness this year, no ma'am.The passes have been purchased, lodging has been arranged, flight options have been perused and will...
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Don't want to clog up any servers so listen to the MP3 of Sour Times over at "lucyintheskies":http://mog.com/lucyintheskies/blog_post/59379 MOG, comment on her lovely post, and then come back and tell me where the sample of the opening few notes comes from.Post the track for additional points.No Samples here. This video is all the way live
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I apologize if my MOGging has been a bit haphazard this week, but things have conspired to drive me away. First, my trusty laptop's screen has gone on the fritz, so my only recourse is to shut off my PC where I do most of my MOGging, so I can use its monitor on the laptop. Second, I'm on-call at work, which is usually no big deal, except this week has featured me banging my head on the same web...
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Yes, yes...Coachella season starts today with the announcement of the lineup tonight...but leaks happen.So, in honor of my annual pilgrimage to this musical Mecca...ill post a song a day until the festival begins...and I can't think of a better way to start if than'It Could Be Sweet'...ah I can imagine this playing as the sunsets over the mountains already...
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I know some of you dig this Portishead. This track is one of my favorites by them. "_Did you realize no one can see inside your view?_" Isn't that a great question...especially here on mog. I try to express love and affection as much as possible but I feed off of the emotions and feelings I receive from other people, mostly in person. Why is it so much easier for some people to express the...
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A clarion call for the trip hop movement, the 1994 release of Portishead's Dummy put Bristol, England on the musical map. Sinister, moody soundscapes like "Glory Box" were tailor-made for spy movies, but too good to be Bond themes.The tune cops the descending bassline and weepy strings from Isaac Hayes' "Ike's Rap II", and adds an insistent snare and vinyl scratches, striking a phenomenal, atmo...
More >
Oh, can't anybody see,We've got a war to fight,Never found our way,Regardless of what they say.How can it feel, this wrong,From this moment,How can it feel, this wrong.Storm,In the morning light,I feel,No more can I say,Frozen to myself.I got nobody on my side,And surely that ain't right,Surely that ain't right.Oh, can't anybody see,We've got a war to fight,Never found our way,Regardless of wha...
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there is nothing quite like singing this song with the taste of coffee on your tongue, and the sun streaming in from the not quite open blinds.beth gibbons over for morning coffee, it seems. though in a dark, smoky bar sharing sips of jameson seems more apporpriate for this song.g'morning, mog xxxlucy.
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Been listening to a lot of Portishead, after being totally captivated by the NYC Live DVD, well Beth actually (confession!!!). Can see a 'bristol sound' binge comming on.Portishead - Sour TimesMassive Attack - Safe From HarmTricky - Pumpkin
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In Japan, there is a certain subculture who sci-fi their motorbikes and they ride them very loud and very, very fast. They are called the Bosozoku, which roughly translates into The Speed Tribes.But we in the west are the true speed tribes. In our tricked-out gogo gadget lives, not only is faster better, faster is the only option. Too much is not enough, and even faster is still too slow. (E...
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of all my many addictions, there is only one that i am proud to admit publicly: portishead. ive had this addiction for almost five years and im sure it will last well into my future. as im sure most of you know, addiction can make people feel lonely and vulnerable, sort of like...a stranger. so why dont we get acquainted?beth gibbons, you make me glad that i am a man.
More >
So don't you stop, being a man Just take a little look from our side when you can Sow a little tenderness No matter if you cry Give me a reason to love you Give me a reason to be ee, a woman I just wanna be a woman So i wanna be desire of a woman For this is the beginning of forever and ever Its time to move over So I wanna be give me a reason to love you.....give me a reason ...to be....a woma...
More >
This track eerily captures the simultaneous attraction and repulsion the female singer feels about the object of her desire. The usual sublime choice of sampled beat and bassline by the Sheffield lads. This track was used in the movie "Lord of War" in the scene where Nicholas Cage is given a GIFT by the Sierra Leone warlord whom he is arming to the hilt. A Naomi and Tyra look alike clad in noth...
More >
It doesn't get any better than this on a Sunday morning...
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I think when Mog was down on Friday it ate some of my posts. My post on the Marie Antoinette soundtrack is gone, and so is my lovely post about a Christmas Song mix CD I plan on making. Oh well. In this post I will discuss the CD I'm listening to right at this moment. I know everyone is on the edge of her seat in anticipation of what CD it could possibly be.DummyPortisheadWhen I first heard...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Mysterons |
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| 2 Sour Times |
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| 3 Strangers |
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| 4 It Could Be Sweet |
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| 5 Wandering Star |
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| 6 It's a Fire |
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| 7 Numb |
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| 8 Roads |
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| 9 Pedestal |
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| 10 Biscuit |
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| 11 Glory Box |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Dummy")
