SUNDAY 25 AUGUST 2019BEAT SURRENDER
Outliers in an era dominated by the big beasts of Britpop, trip-hop
mavericks Portishead conjured something beautiful, timeless and
strange on their debut record, says Ed Power
Lady sings the blues: Beth Gibbons communes on ‘Dummy’ (AFP)
There are many possible starting points for the story of Portishead and their debut album Dummy, which
marks its 25th anniversary this week.
You could begin with the teenage Geoff Barrow falling in love with hip-hop and sampling while attending
youth club funk nights in rural Somerset in the Eighties. Or with the first, fateful meeting between future
beat-whisperer Barrow and singer Beth Gibbons at a work experience course in Bristol, 11 miles down the
road from his home town of Portishead.
You might even begin with Dummy itself and opening track “Mysterons”, with its mash-up of hissing vinyl,
slowed-down James Bond guitars and Doctor Who-style scary effects. If the earth was invaded by theremin-
wielding aliens, this is how they would announce themselves. But perhaps the most appropriate entry point