Years of experience have led me to the conclusion
that a YouTube spree is the best way to avoid being constructive. On one of
those (twice-weekly) benders last night, I found myself watching a video of
Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood playing a Portishead song called The Rip. For
some reason, it induced instant déjà vu; something about the song makes it seem
so familiar in an otherworldly way (not a generic one). Or maybe I’d just heard
it before — can’t really be sure. (Also, it seems I’ve abused the Radiohead
family tree on YouTube so much that the only new joy to be derived comes from
covers.)
But that’s not the point of the revival of this
fantastic (if slightly pitiful) blog. As I moved on to the original Portishead
version of the song (that’s how YouTube trails generally work), a mini-epiphany
dawned on me: Portishead, Massive Attack and Zero 7 are literally the same
band. I’m sure enough people have thought it from time to time — I have too, in
the past — but this particular time came with a shuddering sense of finality
and clarity.
They all belong to the same-ish movement of cool,
underground trip-hop from Britain that made it big on a mainstream level.
Collectively, or if counted as one, they have to be the most covered band in
the world (after Daft Punk’s Lucky). (if I hear one more cover of Teardrop, I
swear to god…)
Anyway, there are the musical similarities, the vocal
delivery, the absence of any happy, major notes whatsoever (Massive Attack do
sneak in a couple out of every ten thousand lonely, minor notes though), the
restrained, gun-to-their-heads performance style (again, MA have more whimsy
and energy, but that just fuels the idea that they’re basically Portishead/Zero
7 after a couple of beers), the tempo and the experimentation with sound.
And then there are the faces. I’m no racist, but
it’s common fact that all British people look alike. In this case, the
resemblances are uncanny.
It’s just some massive elaborate performance piece.
