Yes, I am a little excited about this one, as you should be. Beth Gibbons is releasing a solo album on May 17. Yes, you read that right, Beth Gibbons, from Portishead, is finally releasing a proper solo album.

It would be hard for me to overstate the impact that first Portishead album, Dummy, had on me waaaaay back in 1994. Holy moly that’s 30 years ago! Objectively, it is absolutely one of the finest albums of the 90’s appearing consistently in the top half of various music media’s “best of…” lists.

Subjectively, it is one of the best albums ever made. Period. It had a major impact on not only how I wrote, I riff off Beth’s riff of “Wandering Stars” in a poem in my book Lunatic Engine, but also in how I existed in the world. It hit in the way only art can hit. It is the reason and the way. I could not live without it.

The following two Portishead albums were almost as good – and that “almost” still leaves them as some of the best music made. In addition to Beth, Portishead is also Jeff Barrow and Adrian Utley and they are equally as awesome as Beth. The music they make is an undeniable curation of beats and sounds and rhythms, but it is Beth who holds it all together. Lyrically and melodically, it is Beth.

Portishead released their third album, Third, in 2008. There have been the occasional side projects but nothing significant until now. Beth is giving us more and it is fantastic. And the video! You’ve heard me criticize “visualizer” videos in the past. Beth worked with visual artist Tony Oursler to create this stunning video, a version of a visualizer that is more than just AI generated kaleidoscoping. I love this so much.

My call to action for this post? Watch. Listen. Bask.