VIRGIN MEGASTORE

Having teamed up with Talk Talk’s Paul Webb and Portishead colleague Adrian Utley for her debut album, the Bristol chanteuse is set to release what’s already being described as this year’s most contentious and controversial release to date.

In no way a mere spin-off from the classic Portishead sound, first hearings of Out Of Season have already divided casual listeners and long-time fans like no other we can remember. And from Monday 14th October, visitors to the Virgin Megastores website will be able to join in an exclusive week-long listening party to experience the album first hand.

Completely stripped of the multi-layered, dramatic musical backdrop which graced the classic Dummy and Portishead albums, Out Of Season presents the greatest female voice of its generation in a series of stark solo performances which, to many, are likely to prove something of a shock. So far in this office alone responses have ranged from “the best thing I’ve heard all year” to a derisory “that’s the difference between a Portishead album and making an album with your mates”.

For anyone expecting either Dummy’s chilling trip-hop ‘n’ thriller soundtrack sounds or Portishead’s startling orchestral drama, Out Of Season IS an unsettling and disorientating experience – first time round at least. While the opening track Mysteries has been hailed unanimously as a bona fide classic, proving once and for all that Beth sits up there with Sandy Denny, Liz Fraser and Marianne Faithful in the canon of great, unique British voices, opinion on the rest of the album remains divided. For many the simple arrangements and almost-whispered vocals will be simply too unfussy and folksy for modern ears while others will appreciate this warm, analogue, back-to-basics and brave solo effort.

By Mark Wood