It’s had more false starts than a clapped out old tour van, but the new Portishead album is finally about to launch. Rumours of an imminent release from the Bristolian trip-hoppers have been bubbling away for a decade now, ever since they downed tools with the live album ‘Roseland NYC’, back in 1998. This time, though, it’s all official.
To allay fan fears that this might be another false dawn, in fact, the band’s official website went all pedantic with their press release. “We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be releasing our album, titled ‘THIRD’, on April 14th 2008,” it began. “The album has 11 tracks and is 49 minutes 13 seconds long.”
Portishead had been more productive than usual in recent months, playing out the long-awaited new material at Butlins Holiday Camp in Minehead, of all places, in December. Actually they were curating the latest All Tomorrow’s Parties event, The Nightmare Before Christmas, where they snuck in a set alongside an eclectic selection of invitees, including Aphex Twin, Seasick Steve, The Horrors and shock-comic Jerry Sadowitz.
Reinvigorated, Barrow, Gibbons and co then played a follow-up show at Bristol Academy, and have just announced an enormous tour to coincide with the new LP.
