Portico - Living Fields

My first thought upon receiving Living Fields was, “YES, JOE NEWMAN!” A self-professed Alt-J fangirl, my soul did a little jig when I clocked their frontman on the track list. When my brain recalibrated, I noted the all-important noun drop. That’s right, Portico Quartet are now Portico. The four are now a three, folk-jazz is now sublime electronica, and I am now a Portico convert. 

 Porticos reintroduce themselves with an ethereal title track. The self-assured Living Fields boasts a chorus of Jono McCleery’s, shifting patterns and quivering basslines. Much like their previous stuff, variety is paramount. Colour Fading offer glints of shiny pop, whilst others wallow in atmospheric brooding. Such dark beauty peaks in Brittle. The aforementioned Newman loans his idiosyncratic pipes on the outstanding track. As with the McCleery and Jamie Woon tracks, his voice melds perfectly. However, with this SBTRKT level vocal choice, xx-like spaciousness and Mount Kimbie textures, Portico aren’t exactly treading new ground. Living Fields is risk-free:  a stark change from their niche-carving first album. Nevertheless, Living Fields stands alone as a consistent, blissful listen. Viva Portico.