Portishead - Hammersmith Apollo - 10th April 2008

The fact that Portishead can sell out the 5000 capacity Hammersmith Apollo over ten years after they last released a studio album proves just how important this band are to the British music scene. Their Mercury prize winning debut 'Dummy' is the most well known album in the short-lived but not forgotten "trip-hop" genre, that came out of the Bristol area in the early-mid 90's. Therefore it's not a surprise that the announcement of a tour and a new album, simply yet appropriately entitled 'Third', has brought a buzz to every music message board on the internet. Those old copies of 'Dummy' and their second eponymous album have been found and played once more in preparation for what is surely one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent times amongst music fans.

Judging from tonight's audience Portishead have not only reignited the passion of their old fans, but have also won over some new ones in their absence, with many younger faces seen in the crowd.

As soon as the lights go down and the symbolic P that can only stand for one thing on this night appears on the screens there is ecstatic applause, many of the crowd have been waiting years for this moment. The band appear on stage and once their instruments are ready to go the crowd are instantly attentive.

A Brazilian monologue is played and signifies the beginning of 'Silence' the first track for the forthcoming album, with strong South American influenced drums running throughout that gets the crowd moving their feet. This is followed by the slower 'Hunter', but the first big cheer of the night comes as soon as the opening notes of old favourite 'Mysterons' are played by Geoff Barrow on guitar. The accompanying blue and green lights suit the mood of the song perfectly and Beth Gibbons' vocals seem much stronger than on the first two songs. Hearing a song they know and love, the crowd is finally getting into it.

Unfortunately at this point proceedings are called to a halt and the band must leave the stage for five to ten minutes whilst some technical difficulties. The crowd takes this in good stead and return to chatting amongst themselves whilst they wait.

The band returns shortly after and have it all to do again as the crowd seems to need re-exciting once more. They perform this amiably. They play an equal mix of old and new songs, and they seem to be working better together than ever. This is signified by the fact that whenever she is not singing Beth decides to turn away from the crowd and enjoy the show being put on by the rest of her band mates, which encourages the crowd to do the same. The new songs seem to go down well amongst the intrigued audience members, 'Magic Doors' and the pounding sounds of lead-off single 'Machine Gun' are extremely well received, but there's no doubt that the older songs are the certain highlights.

These include a stripped down version of 'Wandering Star'. Beth who sits down for this song and seems to be lost in her own world as her vocals and Geoff's spooky guitar over the thumping bass bring a poignant beauty to this song about depression and self loathing.

The bands heads off stage for what seems, to me at least, to be a premature end to the main set, but maybe this is because I am just enjoying it too much.

This disappointment is cast aside when the band returns for a magnificent encore. 'Threads' is even darker and more threatening than on record and it seems as if Beth is going to burst a lung towards the end as she puts her all into it. 'Cowboys' and the epic 'We Carry On' see out the night. Towards the end Beth shows her gratitude by running into the crowd and hugging as many as possible.

It must be an amazing feeling to still have this kind of reaction from fans after ten years away, and with a new, truly amazing new album on the way it seems as if Portishead are truly back, and we're more than happy to have them.

Rating: 9.1/10
Best Moment: The beginning of 'Mysterons' when the crowd cheered, the song kicked in and the green lights roved over the crowd.