LimeWire Music Blog

Iconic trip-hop group Portishead all but disappeared at the top of their game, re-emerging in 2008 after a ten-year hiatus with Third, a radically different record exploring a variety of new styles. Some saw it as a return to form, while others (like myself) were mostly unimpressed. However, one thing was for certain, no one  expected the band to soldier on as an active outfit.

Anyone doubting the future of the band can rest easy, as Portishead has just unveiled a brand-new track, available for stream and purchase through Amnesty International.  You can stream a video for the track, “Chase the Tear,” by clicking here.  The song is also available to purchase for a mere $0.99, and all proceeds will be put toward Amnesty’s human rights work.

As for the song itself, some fans of the band’s more slow and seductive style may find “Chase the Tear” difficult to swallow, with its pulsing rhythms, simple percussion, and buzzing synths setting it apart from anything else in their catalog.  For me, it’s a godsend, and in my opinion, it may very well be the best thing the band has ever released.  Naturally, my disposition for minimal synth and ice-cold new wave deems “Chase the Tear” a natural fit, but perhaps more will embrace this new and bold direction.

Portishead – Chase The Tear from Mintonfilm on Vimeo.