aaamusic | On 31, Jan 2011



Portico Quartet, four years after the release of their critical-acclaimed-Mercury- Prize- nominated debut album Knee-deep in the North Sea, decided to release it again in a new version enriched with an unreleased track and two live versions. The quality of this album is extraordinary as we know, especially of we think that these four guys were twenty in 2007. After that they released Isla as second album and now inspired by it, with legendary producer John Leckie at Abbey Road, the band decided that while they still loved Knee-Deep they would welcome the opportunity to revisit the albums mixes again. The album was duly withdrawn from circulation earlier this year and the band invited John Leckie to remix it for a re-issue The live versions of ‘Knee Deep in the North Sea’ and ‘Steps in the Wrong Direction’, both from the original album, were recorded in July this year at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and demonstrate just how much the band have evolved in the past few years. The first track leaves the listener breathless, they are absolutely stunning musicians and the tune gains an emotional tension that was not so well developed in the original version. Adding the effect of a spitting fire that sounds similar to the falling rain is simply brilliant. Steps in the Wrong Direction keeps the same structure, but after six minute the track is revived by a sinuous contrabass solo that gets a round of applause by the audience. The third bonus track is the previously unreleased ‘All The Pieces Matter’. This tune is hypnotic, the drums beats the tempo like a clock, while a melancholic saxophone describe the slow passing of the day. Cymbals and hang give it a kind of solemnity like it were a ceremony. It’s like a sonic painting or a dramatic soundtrack for a silent movie.

Originally intended for inclusion on Isla, the band was unhappy with the studio recording and so it didn’t made the final cut. However, the live version recorded for Gilles Peterson’s Radio One Show at the BBC Maida Vale studios is the band’s favourite ever take of this enigmatic track and they are delighted to include it here for the first time.

Knee-deep in the North Sea definitely deserves to be listened to again, but I’m a bit worried for this band who decided to re-release their first album as third work. The first thing I thought was they don’t know how to go on with their music, but it’s strange because they have such a strong identity that following the same way or trying another one should be easy, they are amazing musicians and sometimes it’s a big help to find out new music path. So I want to believe their version of facts and In absolutely advice this album to jazz lovers but not only, because it would be a wonderful surprise for all the people who love music with a capital M.

Author: Roberta Capuano