Portishead
Dummy
Go!/London, Released 1994

If it wasn't for Portishead's vocalist Beth Gibbons, you
could listen to Dummy all of the time. With tight, fresh
hip-hop beats and a subtle jazz flavor, most of Dummy is
danceable, although the band do have a knack for
creating an especially eerie mood with moaning organs
and swelling strings. But when Gibbons enters the
scene, her clear delicate vibrato casts a shadow of
isolation and absolute melancholy over the whole album.

Portishead easily draw you into their lonely world, and
their ambient trip-hop entices you to stay. Songs like
"Numb" and "Biscuit" are dark trances enduced by the
combination of hip-hop, mellow guitars, and a variety of
samples coated by Gibbon's desperate pleas for
salvation. Hearing her cry, "Nobody loves me, it's true"
during the hit "Sour Times" is enough to tear at anyone's
heart. On "Roads" - a track already enveloped in
sorrowful elegant strings - Gibbon's soprano trembles
with pain. However, the twisted lounge acts, "Strangers"
and "Pedestal" feature very soulful and powerful vocals
accompanied by some excellent jazz performances.

The last track, "Glory Box", is Portishead in full effect.
Over a sample from Isaac Hayes' "Ike's Rap III" and a
slinky blues guitar, Gibbons duels with herself as she
tries to justify a relationship. She first comes off as a
contemptuous Billie Holiday and then switches back to
her sweet, sad self as she pleads, "Give me a reason to
love you/ I just want to be a woman."

By all means, Dummy is an essential album for trip-hop
fans and beginners. And try not to worry if you feel
depressed; Portishead are that way so you don't have to
be.

If you like Portishead, check out:
Portishead PNYC
Tricky Maxinquaye
Portishead Portishead
Massive Attack Mezzanine
Beth Orton Trailer Park

Lori Latimer