Portishead

United Kingdom, 1991–now

Bristol trio of Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley, formed in 1991. Dummy (1994) set hip-hop rhythms and film-score strings under Gibbons's vocals, a central record of trip-hop, followed by the sparser Third (2008).

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Portishead and 3 artists Portishead influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Portishead?

• Geoff Barrow — Portishead is Geoff Barrow's project: he co-founded it and, as its producer and sonic architect, built its hip-hop-meets-film-noir sound.
• Massive Attack — Portishead emerged from the same Bristol scene as Massive Attack, sharing the slow, dread-laden trip-hop template.

Which artists did Portishead influence?

• Morcheeba — Portishead's cinematic, noir trip-hop is a clear model for Morcheeba's atmospheric, sample-based songs.
• Sneaker Pimps — Sneaker Pimps' sleek, female-fronted trip-hop follows the noir template Portishead established.
• Evanescence — Named by Amy Lee among her influences, with Bjork, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails and Tori Amos.