Portishead - Third Vinyl 2LP

More than a decade after their self-titled sophomore album, Portishead returned in 2008 with Third, a record that both fulfills and subverts expectations. Retaining their signature dark, cinematic atmosphere and Beth Gibbons’s haunting vocals, the album largely abandons traditional trip-hop in favor of bolder, more experimental territory. From the tumbling percussion of “Silence” to the sparse textures of “Nylon Smile” and the stark, militaristic pulse of “Machine Gun,” Third challenges listeners with its disorienting soundscapes. Yet with time, it reveals itself as a deeply compelling work that honors the band’s melancholy spirit while breaking new ground.