Single Review: Portishead - Machine Gun

Portishead return with the release (28th April) of their third album, simply titled Third, on Island Records and the first single to be taken from the album is released this week as a limited edition 12″ vinyl single and a digital download.

Machine Gun includes the irresistible and unmistakable voice of Beth Gibbons, but the accompanying music is not so Portishead-like.  Adrian Utley and Geoff Barrow have constructed a darker, sombre soundtrack more akin to the Euro beat of Laibach and the industrial noise of Nine Inch Nails, with a hint of a 1980’s John Carpenter film soundtrack thrown in for good measure, rather than the easy listening trip hop of Sour Times and Cowboys.

Machine Gun by Portishead is much less likely to receive daytime radio airplay and so may be a taste of a less commercial sounding third album.

Listen to Machine Gun by Portishead

Portishead play London’s Brixton Academy on April 17th.