New Portishead Video - "Machine Gun"

You'll have to hand over a fake name and fake email address to watch "Machine Gun," but if you're digging Third like we are, it'll be worth the effort. Nothing especially innovative about the footage, but such a good song it hardly matters. In fact, the simplicity works in the video's favor: The grainy footage is drowned in the same bluish tint as the ghostly, iconic album art, and for all the folks asking why bands don't do more performance-based videos, this finds the Portisheads together in a room, concentrating on the ingredients each adds to the dubbed out "Machine Gun." Note the intense concentration. And when the chilly synth line rolls over the High Places-on-ice drum triggers. You can watch it at Portishead.com, but maybe put on a warm jacket first.

UPDATE: Now it's on YouTube, no fake ID necessary...

Posted at 9:38 AM in Video
Tags: Portishead

12 Comments

i wish they could've put in the sweet synth earlier than in the last 30 seconds.

Posted by: rob z at 03/19/08 10:10 AM  | Reply
Score = 1

please tell me this isn't the final version of the song. i'm all for death marches and all, but... ugh.

Posted by: Lord Kook at 03/19/08 11:24 AM  | Reply
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wow, i've conciously avoided all things that have the words 'new' and 'portishead' because i wanted the whole album experience but this is amazing.

if this isn't the final version then yeah, that synth should be all over the place

Posted by: Keaton34 at 03/19/08 12:41 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

anyone else get a strong Brad Fiedel vibe from this track? That ending synth is the clincher.

Posted by: Zampa at 03/19/08 2:08 PM  | Reply
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the synth reminds me of Terminator.

Posted by: allenk at 03/19/08 2:43 PM  | Reply
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those wacky portisheads! so "minimalist" it hurts!

good undertones though. i think i heard this in a nightmare once.

Posted by: turkey butt at 03/19/08 4:00 PM  | Reply
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The version on the album is pretty much the same thing, just more produced with a few little extras here and there. This version is pretty true to form. I really like it... goon on ya, Portishead!

Posted by: Chuy at 03/19/08 9:40 PM  | Reply
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listening again today- i'm getting into it more. reminds me of The Normal for some reason. pretty creepy.

Posted by: turkey butt at 03/20/08 2:07 PM  | Reply
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be great to see Growing open for them, be an interesting show, portishead singer can do some improv banshee wails

Posted by: gimme at 03/20/08 3:01 PM  | Reply
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its portishead...
its the black box

Posted by: erickbasss at 03/22/08 9:32 PM  | Reply
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BORRRRRRING, sounds like my Ghost record..

Posted by: treznor at 03/26/08 12:40 AM  | Reply
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i agree with treznor - these guys are kinda boring. 4.14 minutes of life has been sucked away.

Posted by: donald von fabio at 03/31/08 9:55 AM  | Reply
Score = 0