Dummy

by Portishead

Overview

Portishead's album debut is a brilliant, surprisingly natural synthesis of claustrophobic spy soundtracks, dark breakbeats inspired by frontman Geoff Barrow's love of hip-hop, and a vocalist (Beth Gibbons) in the classic confessional singer/songwriter mold. Beginning with the otherworldly theremin and martial beats of "Mysterons," Dummy hits an early high with "Sour Times," a post-modern torch song driven by a Lalo Schifrin sample. The chilling atmospheres conjured by Adrian Utley's excellent guitar work and Barrow's turntables and keyboards prove the perfect foil for Gibbons, who balances sultriness and melancholia in equal measure. Occasionally reminiscent of a torchier version of Sade, Gibbons provides a clear focus for these songs, with Barrow and company behind her laying down one of the best full-length productions ever heard in the dance world. Where previous acts like Massive Attack had attracted dance heads in the main, Portishead crossed over to an American, alternative audience, connecting with the legion of angst-ridden indie fans as well. Better than any album before it, Dummy merged the pinpoint-precise productions of the dance world with pop hallmarks like great songwriting and excellent vocal performances. ~ John Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	10/17/1994
Label:	Go! Discs / Def Jam / Island / Island/Def Jam
UPC:	0042282855329
Rank:	3223

Tracks

1. Mysterons
2. Sour Times
3. Strangers
4. It Could Be Sweet
5. Wandering Star
6. It's a Fire
7. Numb
8. Roads
9. Pedestal
10. Biscuit
11. Glory Box

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Portishead   Primary Artist
Geoff Barrow   Fender Rhodes,Organ (Hammond),Drums
Johnnie Ray   Sampling
Adrian Utley   Bass,Guitar,Theremin,Co-Producer,Guitar (Bass),Organ (Hammond)
Andy Hague   Trumpet
Neil Solman   Fender Rhodes,Organ (Hammond)
Strings Unlimited   Strings
Gary Baldwin   Organ (Hammond)
Smokey Brooks   Sampling
Beth Gibbons   Vocals,Lead Vocals
Clive Deamer   Drums
Isaac Hayes   Sampling
War   Sampling
Weather Report   Sampling
Dave McDonald   Nose Flute
Lalo Schifrin   Sampling

Technical Credits

Geoff Barrow   String Arrangements,Mixing,Composer,Programming
Johnnie Ray   Composer
Lonnie Jordan   Composer
Otis Turner   Composer
Adrian Utley   Mixing,Composer,Producer,String Arrangements
Gerald Goldstein   Composer
Morris "B.B." Dickerson   Composer
Thomas Sylvester Allen   Composer
Charles William Miller   Composer
Lonnie Jordan Le Roy   Composer
Beth Gibbons   Composer
Isaac Hayes   Composer
Lee Oskar   Composer
Wayne Shorter   Composer
Howard Scott   Composer
Portishead   Group,Composer,Producer
Jerry Goldstein   Composer
Richard Newell   Programming,Drum Programming
C. Miller   Composer
Harold Brown   Composer
Henry Brooks   Composer
Dave McDonald   Engineer
Papa Dee Allen   Composer
Lalo Schifrin   Composer