The rousing PORT O’BRIEN debut All We Could Was Sing was released to an ecstatic reception last year, with critics and fans alike swept away by their tales of the sea and music filled with joyous abandon. But while some of our favourite albums are informed by delirium and youthful adventure, others are informed by tragedy and the depths of heartache. Unexpectedly, Port O’Brien’s second album falls into this category.
Where the band’s stomping debut All We Could Do Was Sing was full of ragged chants and life affirming lyrics, Threadbare is, as the name suggests, a much more contemplative and introspective affair yet still filled with all-encompassing, emotionally charged anthems for which Port O’Brien have become known.
What began in early 2009 as a light-hearted and loose songwriting effort quickly turned into a dense and bold work, following the sudden death of close family member. A lingering sense of apprehension hung around the resultant recording process.
Chinks of light are seen on ‘Love Me Through’, as the band regenerate with jaunty licks and stripped kit. The subject matter peering through the darkness towards the light at the end of the tunnel; “And after all this/I still love love love/Everything you do/But still I wonder, If you’ll love me through”.
The album closes with the book-end ‘High Without the Hope’ which begins with the same intro except played backwards. The song is almost identical but crucially, the lyrics differ and at the end Cambria adds: “Mourning’s never linear…”.
Threadbare is alarmingly honest and cuts like a knife, but it’s all the richer and stronger for it.
Over the past couple of years, Port O’Brien has evolved into a full 4-piece band and currently performs all around California. Onstage, their youthful vigor (the average age of a member is 21) compliments their folkish sound in a way that feels exciting and new, as if Cap’n Jazz were translating a set of Will Oldhams most approachable material.
“4/5” Uncut
“Quietly dazzling” 4/5 Mojo
“Both tender and barbed… Whatever Port O’Brien went through in the last twelve months was evidently painful, yet it’s upped their game considerably” Q
“4/5” Time Out
“This is truly a superb album” 4/5 The Fly
“Threadbare's a breath of fresh, sea air” Pitchfork
PLUS support from DEER TICK and DRY THE RIVER
Tickets from:
Gigantic
0115 959 7908
www.ticketline.co.uk
0844 888 9991
www.ticketweb.co.uk
0844 477 2000
www.seetickets.com
0870 264 3333
Or in person from the Scala box office, or Rough Trade East, Dray Walk, Old Truman Brewery 91 Brick Lane London E1 6QL
