Two Cd’s I recently bought on itunes which I highly recommend are Portishead’s much awaited “Third” and Tokyo Police Club’s new lp “Elephant Shell”. While both are different in sound and influences these two new albums are equally worth listening to.
Portishead funnily enough herald from the English town Portishead and had huge success with their previous album’s “Dummy” released in 1994 and “Portishead” the follow up lp in 1997. Their debut cd “Dummy” was an instant classic and clever mix of jazz-pop fusion with ambient elecronic samples. Beth Gibbon’s haunting vocals combined with the atmospheric sound made this cd an underground hit and a permanent addition to alternative music culture. The second lp, the self-titled “Portishead” left much of the pop-sampling behind and presented a starker and more melancholic journey into sparse emotive landscapes.
The new album “Third” comes to us 11 years later and reflects a stripped down, minimalistic addition. Beth Gibbons is back as the vocalist and she croons along to electronic groves which although bleak and somewhat industrial, improve which each listen. While some people still wish for another “Dummy”, Portishead give us a brave, transitional and pioneering CD which will not be everyone’s cup of tea but is well worth waiting for.
Tokyo Police Club’s new album “Elephant Cell” is their debut lp which doesn’t fail to live up to their catchy ep and single “Nature of the Experiment” which was a firm favourite in my collection. Quirky and clever, this single was a fresh sound in the wilderness of indie music in Canada. This Canadian band should go places with this album and overall the 13 songs flow seamlessly in indie-glory. They sound like a mixture of The Strokes with their own happy, blend of indie guitar scratch. I like this lp very much and it makes a good soundtrack for happy mornings and brisk walks. A definite pick-you-up in comparison to Portishead’s moody soundscapes.
