Portishead - The Rip
[Island]

Appearing on a record that remained flawless from the very opening note to the final closing sound, 'The Rip' was one of the standout songs on the masterpiece 'Third' - so much so even messiahs Yorke and Greenwood covered the track acoustically.

A song divided by two halves (without sounding disorientating to the old ears), things begin with delicately strummed acid-folk guitars and Beth's airy-eery 60s psych vocals give a false-sense of fragility - before the rhythmic Krautrock-like drums work their magic over oscillating keyboards. Surely Silver Apples would be giving a pleasing nod of approval to the pulsating synth-work put into practice.

For those who dismiss Portishead as moody, sulky creators of bleakened music, the melancholic tones of 'The Rip' will do little to change their minds. For the rest of us, it's just another excuse to stick 'Third' back on the stereo and realise this is the best album you will be hearing this year.