Cover of Portishead Live @ Alcatraz, Milano, 31.03.2008
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For fans of portishead,lovers of trip hop and alternative rock,concertgoers,music enthusiasts exploring live performances,followers of beth gibbons' vocal work,listeners interested in musical evolution and 2000s alternative music
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LA RECENSIONE

THE SHOW

An attentive and diverse audience for the approximately hour and a half showcase of "3," set to release in April 2008.

 

THE NEW TRACKS

The first track - "Machine Gun" - is a single from the third, yet released album ("3") and preludes a series of new tracks very different from the usual P sound: noise rock guitars at the forefront, very full sounds, evolved vocals and lyrics.

It is followed by an excellent distribution of old tracks (from both Dummy - 1995 and Portishead - 1997), greatly appreciated by the audience, as well as new ones, interesting and never banal: "Magic Doors", "Nylon Smile", tracks that retain the painful and harrowing atmosphere of the '90s; "The Rip" stands out for its originality, with acoustic guitars and almost narrative lyrics, in third person singular, very different from the usual introspective melancholy typical of P and - in the reprise - a wall of full noise guitars (Sonic Youth on my mind) and a "I'm TIRED" sung surprisingly, very emotionally, obsessively shouted (Death Valley '69 on my mind).

The general feeling is that the new "3" will not disappoint the decade-long wait not only for nostalgics still attached to the refined P of the '90s but also for those in search of a modernist evolution.

 

THE CLASSICS

Interspersed with 5 or 6 new ones, the tracks from Dummy and Portishead warmed the ever-demanding Milan audience in a constellation of otherworldly sounds and melodies.

Portishead are an elegant and refined dandy, polished, not a hair out of place, confident but not arrogant, competent, slightly lascivious, fascinating, and svelte. Simply perfect. Playing devil's advocate, one could say it’s possible to stay comfortably at home and listen to a CD, given that of the known tracks there isn't a note, sound, or word different from the studio version, but it would be like watching a starry sky on a PC monitor instead of in the sky, at night, atop a hill.

The tracks of P are simple, what composes them is sufficient and necessary and the richness lies entirely in the skillful mix of instruments and sounds and - of course - the wonderful (especially live) voice of Beth Gibbons.

In a season so rich in concerts that one must (perhaps) select the proposals, this concert will serve as a benchmark.

 

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Summary by Bot

Portishead's live show at Alcatraz in Milan in 2008 showcased new tracks from their upcoming album '3' alongside beloved classics. The band impressed with evolved sounds, emotional vocals, and a flawless performance. The audience responded warmly to the mix of nostalgia and innovation, marking the concert as a memorable event. The new songs blended noise rock elements with the band's trademark melancholic atmosphere, promising a compelling follow-up to their previous work.

Portishead

Portishead are an English band from Bristol, widely associated with the trip-hop movement. The core lineup is Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utley.
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