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Isla

Portico Quartet

Portico Quartet sound like nothing you have heard before. Their new album Isla was produced by John Leckie and is a dark-hued, multi-faceted masterpiece. Producer Leckie has brought an extra clarity to their arrangements, while the musicians have made good use of the Abbey Road studios to sculpt and enhance their sound with loop pedals, real-time electronics and overdubs. Nevertheless, 70 per cent of the album was performed live: this is a band who can deliver on the promise of their recordings in concert; and vice versa. Their collectively written compositions evoke a universe of musical possibilities and influences. 'Eventually, the sum of all our parts - and what we've been listening to - comes out,' says Wyllie. Yet Portico Quartet sound like nobody else in jazz, World or contemporary music. Each of the nine tracks on Isla has a distinct mood and atmosphere, while remaining firmly within their soundworld. From the churning maelstrom of Clipper to the pounding pedal points of Dawn Patrol; from the fragile ostinatos of Line to the anthemic ensemble of the title track, Isla is an album whose contents reveal fresh nuances and facets on each listen.

"Try to imagine the coolest film never made. We mean really cool. Portico Quartet would provide the soundtrack" Channel 4.com

"A strikingly original sound." The Times

Get instant gratification with a complimentary MP3 download when you buy the CD

  • imageAdd To Basketmore info£8.72Isla - CD
    playPaper Scissors StonePortico Quartet5m 27s
    playThe VisitorPortico Quartet5m 31s
    playDawn PatrolPortico Quartet6m
    playLinePortico Quartet7m 29s
    playLife Mask (Interlude)Portico Quartet1m 14s
    playClipperPortico Quartet6m 30s
    playLife MaskPortico Quartet7m 15s
    playIslaPortico Quartet5m
    playShed Song (Improv No 1)Portico Quartet8m 20s
    Isla Digital BookletPortico Quartet
  • imageAdd To Basketmore info£18.10Isla - vinyl

    12", 180 gram vinyl

    As a bonus for vinyl purchasers, the pack contains a voucher to download all the tracks here as 320kbps MP3s. We're also giving you an extra track from the CD version, Shed Song (Improv No 1), which was recorded in the band's home studio at the end of their garden in January 2009. The download also includes the 'Isla' digital booklet.

    playPaper Scissors StonePortico Quartet5m 27s
    playThe VisitorPortico Quartet5m 31s
    playDawn PatrolPortico Quartet6m
    playLinePortico Quartet7m 29s
    playLife Mask (Interlude)Portico Quartet1m 14s
    playClipperPortico Quartet6m 30s
    playLife MaskPortico Quartet7m 15s
    playIslaPortico Quartet5m
Isla at realworldrecords.com