Thursday, December 11, 2008
Machine Gun
My first time listening to "Machine Gun" off Portishead's Third I kept waiting for something to happen, something to fill the icy void between the hammer blows. But Portishead had something else in mind.
On Third Portishead takes you to the boundary where sounds that once pleased the ear begin to sound more and more like malfunctioning machines. And the sound is relentless, with a simple beat that goes on and on without change. That they made great music from these elements is an amazing feat, and the result is a spare, metallic beauty which is both empty and yet abundantly full. Is there room for any other sound in a song like "Machine Gun"?
On Third Portishead takes you to the boundary where sounds that once pleased the ear begin to sound more and more like malfunctioning machines. And the sound is relentless, with a simple beat that goes on and on without change. That they made great music from these elements is an amazing feat, and the result is a spare, metallic beauty which is both empty and yet abundantly full. Is there room for any other sound in a song like "Machine Gun"?
# posted by Jeff @ 6:20 PM 
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Jeff, I can't answer your question but I can recommend Delta's "in-flight entertainment" menu. Unable to sleep on a red-eye from Seattle, I was pleasantly surprised to find this album listed under the "chill" (?) category. I listened to it 3 times straight and watched the sky turned from black to haze to pink. I felt like I was being transported to another world, and things were NOT going to be okay--quite the surreal experience. One of my favorites of this year.
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