Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man

Out of Season

2003-10-28

Beth Gibbons is the tortured female vocalist from the band Portishead, and "Rustin Man", is actually Paul Webb from Talk Talk,  who took his alias from one of the first songs the duo completed (the last actual track on the disc).  They receive musical help from both bands (and, Portishead is NOT splitting).  Gibbon's moody, "desparately intimate" and evocative vocals are central here (much more so than in Portishead).  They are outskirted with unusual, haunting music that does not steal the spot light from Gibbons.   The feelings of melancholy and isolation are present, even when the song's themes are happier.  As said by The Guardian, its "gorgeously uneasy listening".   The first 2 tracks swept me off my feet!

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Rock

  • reviewed 12/2012

    GRANDADDY
    Under the Western Freeway

  • reviewed 08/2006

    PHOENIX
    It's Never Been Like That

  • reviewed 09/2007

    DESOL
    ON MY WAY

  • reviewed 06/2010

    ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO
    STREET SONGS OF LOVE

  • reviewed 11/2016

    Air Traffic Controller
    Black Box

  • reviewed 05/2017

    The Buttertones
    Gravedigging

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.