Gibbons' voice is treated with warbled Leslie effects while electronic scales build behind her, creating a space-age undercurrent that suggests disconnectedness. Tension builds between Gibbons' sweet, sadly delivered melodies and Barrow's dissonant rhythms and scraps of noise. With their new album, Portishead indicates that there are still vast sonic landscapes to explore. And this is just the beginning. Rock 'n' roll is suddenly fun again.
Dance music is fun again.
Even better, they appear to be one and the same thing. Less expected, perhaps, are the two new tracks added since the U.K. release earlier this year. But although their approach to musicmaking might appear drunk and disorderly, the figureheads behind Propellerheads know precisely what they're doing. As well they should, given their credentials. The two, who reside in the quiet, old university town of Bath, have thrown all their experience into the Propellerheads project, but just as important, they've thrown in all their enthusiasm, too.