Portico may sound familiar. They were previously known as Portico Quartet, and featured Nick Mulvey who left the band in 2011 to peruse a career as a singer-songwriter. Their debut album, Knee-Deep In The North Sea (2007), was extremely well received, winning Time Out’s best jazz album that year as well as being Mercury Music Prize nominated in 2008 (when it still meant something). Now they are touring as a trio, their remarkable debut release as Portico, Living Fields, which has guest vocals form Jono McCleery, Joe Newman (Alt-J) and Jamie Woon.

 

The first song of support act Snow Ghosts set gave you a false sense of what was to come, playing an acoustic dark folk sound. After a soft pause, bass and a danceable beat erupted into the dramatic and cinematic sound. Unfortunately the majority of the audience didn’t turned up until the close of London acts set, and the bass consequently rumbled and rattled off every surface in the relatively desolate Haunt. Lead vocalist Hannah Cartwright was a real highlight of their sound, producing a voice that was strong yet at the same time gentle which was utterly compelling all the way through. Their new track, ‘The Fleet’ was a hard hitter with its chugging guitar, erratic violin solos and bass notes with drum loops holding the beat together – a very likable sound. If the atmosphere hadn’t been as empty as it was, I’m sure it would have been a captivating and memorable set.

 

Portico started their performance by building up an atmospheric soundscape, until it was cut by some booming bass notes. Then out of nowhere, vocalist Jono McCleery suddenly appears through the blue hue that covers the stage to make the trio a quartet. Having not yet extensively listened to their new music, I soon realise that the new Portico have drifted far away from their original jazz template they championed as the Portico Quartet, playing a Dub like beat. Minimal beats and dark melodies, sustained synth pads and bass notes along with a Jono’s soulful voice was a very mellow mixture.

 

The bands setup has changes quite drastically; Duncan Bellamy (who lead the show) moved from percussion to an electric drum kit that he constantly manipulated with a drum machine, Jack Wylie has switched from saxophone to synths and keyboard, Milo Fizpatrick went from a contrabass to a synths as well as a bass and electric guitar which added a mystical layer to the sound. They never over complicated their sound, which prevailed – having an overwhelming relaxing effect that made portions of the crowd sit on the floor. The crowd were completely captivated by Portico’s emotive sound, especially when ‘Bright Luck’ was performed which felt like an enthralling epic and produce an ecstatic response from the audience. For me this was the standout song of the set, and portrayed the feeling of isolation their nocturnal sounds provoke. Jono left the stage and watch the encore with the audience, for what was an up tempo end which had the crowd dancing, whistling and howling.

 

For some, this might have been a big disappointment as the jazz quartet is long gone. That said, they are still a group of fine musicians and have generated themselves a new sound for a new fan base, which is still of the same high quality that you would associate with their previous releases. Live, it was an immensely enjoyable and immersive performance that surpassed my expectation.

Iain Lauder