Portishead - Dummy (1994)

The first time I heard this band was on a Dom Joly sketch. Two men, dressed as dogs battered the crap out of each other in a café, while unsuspecting people, innocently drinking their coffee tried to get to grips with the bizare scene which was unfolding around them. The film came from a black and white CCTV camera, and all the while Glory Box was playing in the background, filling the surreal silence. It was a fantastically odd thing to be watching, and I feel it sufficiently sums up the mood of this album. They call this Trip-Hop, and as much as I dislike the recent neccesity to put every band into its own little sub-genre, you can kind of understand why. It literally is like Hip-hop meets LSD fuled wailing. I suppose I should point out that there are elements of this album that even I find too odd to commit to liking. But all of the surreal sounds are worth it for the times when this album is truly beautiful.

Track list:
1. Mysterons
2. Sour Times
3. Strangers
4. It Could Be Sweet
5. Wandering Star
6. Numb
7. Roads
8. Pedestal
9. Biscuit
10. Glory Box

Personal Favourites:
Numb
Roads
Glory Box