Further proof of the fertile musical soil in Italy, and particularly northern Italy for some reason (maybe we just haven't investigated the south yet, it's a big old world). Portfolio formed as a trio in 2003 and by the looks of things have grown and grown, touring extensively around Europe and gaining members along the way. There was a mini album last year, but it's taken them a full decade to release their first full-length, 'The Standing Babas'. We're thinking this was the right idea. They may have been on top form seven or eight years ago, we don't know, but the music on display here is varied but still cohesive and is also made to a very high standard. Portfolio take things seriously, but not to the point of self-importance.
In short, they wanted to make 'The Standing Babas' sound as stunning and perfect as they possibly could. You won't find many better basslines this year than on the post-punky 'Marnero'; the fusion of traditional rock with jazz and squalls of screeching guitar on 'State Uniti' aren't far from Spiritualized at their orchestral best. These are powerful songs and the arrangements are often sublime; maybe it's no wonder it took so long. This combination of separate parts fits together surprisingly well. 'Beth Gibbons' goes from mid-period Radiohead to, well, Portishead-like ambiance over the course of six-and-a-half minutes. The vocals are pure and haunting.
It's times like this where Portfolio may slip up. Although the intentions are good and the song impressive, it could be accused of being music to heap plaudits upon rather than to listen to. It would be handy to leave lying around on the coffee table at dinner parties to show the guests your high class musical taste; 'Kim Novak' and the title-track, while decent enough, may be good examples of this. That brass though is just too good to make this a museum piece; it lifts the songs, creating a whole new grandeur. The more abstract songs like 'Ognuno ha le proprie amicizie' and the psych/jazz of 'Pianoafrica' will be the reserve of more left-field music fans but that's not a criticism, both are brilliantly made. The blissful 'Ofelia' is just about irresistible. It may be a journey through different types of sound but Portfolio do majestic very very well.
Portfolio's website
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thanks god. she is back.
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