Limited Edition  - Audiophile Mastering

Live: Roseland NYC is a demonstration of what a good live album should be, showcasing one of trip-hop's best bands

Along with Massive Attack and Tricky, Portishead was part of the Bristol triumvirate that popularized Triphop in the early nineties, especially in America.

But what made them stand out was their added elements of Cool Jazz, Acid House and soundtrack samples to their slow, elastic beats, creating an atmospheric and seductive sound that appealed to a broad audience.

In 1998, when they realized that fans were swapping bootlegs of their live shows like crazy, Portishead decided to capture a unique performance.

'Roseland NYC' was a one night stand of sorts at the New York City Roseland Ballroom, where Geoff Barrow, Adrian Utley and Beth Gibbons were joined by the 35-piece New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

These new arrangements gave a new sense of dramatic tension, and in the process they created one of the most breathtaking albums of the genre.

This is especially true of the material from Portishead. On album, several of these songs sounded a little flat, but here they soar right alongside such staples as "Mysterons," "Sour Times," and "Glory Box." That alone doesn't necessarily make PNYC revelatory -- instead, it deepens a listener's understanding of the artist, much like the Tindersticks' The Bloomsbury Theatre. Which means, of course, that PNYC is much more compelling and essential than the average live album.

Selections: 
1. Humming 
2. Cowboys
3. All Mine
4. Mysterious
5. Only You
6. Half Day Closing
7. Over
8. Glory Box
9. Sour Times
10. Roads
11. Strangers