The first time I ever heard Sour Times, I was anchored in my boat, alone, about five kilometres from the shore. I had a mix tape that a penpal from the mainland had sent me, and I was laying serenely on the deck as a number of ordinary, so-so trip-hop numbers passed me by. Suddenly, the icy chattering that opens the song hit me, and then the soulful, tortured vocals of Beth Gibbons kicked in, whispering the now familiar line, "Nobody loves me, it's true". I immediately knew that I had to track down this band and find out everything that I could about them.

As soon as I got back, I immediately ordered "Dummy". Sounding something like a cross between classic trip-hop, jazz-blues, and a cheap spy flick, it managed to bring everything together admirably under one umbrella with the help of some haunting guitar work, tastefully employed samples, and of course Beth Gibbons' amazing, spectral vocal talents.

Songs like Mysterons continue the film-noir atmosphere, like the soundtrack to a James Bond film that doesn't exist. Numb is eerily quaint, and the sexy, sensual It's A Fire provide a backbone to the album, sounding sexy without being sleazy or crass. Glory Box has Gibbons in her finest form yet, accompanied by some David Gilmour-style guitar interludes.

Although Portishead did release a fine follow-up to this album, it failed to have the emotional impact that this album does in places. Dark, depressing, and eerie for much of its length, and slightly optimistic in a few places, this album will nevertheless lift you up. Portishead sound like they're in pain here so that you won't have to. A perfect record for listening to when you're out on the ocean far away from the land, or alone drinking coffee on a rainy day.

The first time I ever heard Sour Times, I was anchored in my boat, alone, about five kilometres from the shore. I had a mix tape that a penpal from the mainland had sent me, and I was laying serenely on the deck as a number of ordinary, so-so trip-hop numbers passed me by. Suddenly, the icy chattering that opens the song hit me, and then the soulful, tortured vocals of Beth Gibbons kicked in, whispering the now familiar line, "Nobody loves me, it's true". I immediately knew that I had to track down this band and find out everything that I could about them.

As soon as I got back, I immediately ordered "Dummy". Sounding something like a cross between classic trip-hop, jazz-blues, and a cheap spy flick, it managed to bring everything together admirably under one umbrella with the help of some haunting guitar work, tastefully employed samples, and of course Beth Gibbons' amazing, spectral vocal talents.

Songs like Mysterons continue the film-noir atmosphere, like the soundtrack to a James Bond film that doesn't exist. Numb is eerily quaint, and the sexy, sensual It's A Fire provide a backbone to the album, sounding sexy without being sleazy or crass. Glory Box has Gibbons in her finest form yet, accompanied by some David Gilmour-style guitar interludes.

Although Portishead did release a fine follow-up to this album, it failed to have the emotional impact that this album does in places. Dark, depressing, and eerie for much of its length, and slightly optimistic in a few places, this album will nevertheless lift you up. Portishead sound like they're in pain here so that you won't have to. A perfect record for listening to when you're out on the ocean far away from the land, or alone drinking coffee on a rainy day.