Beth Gibbons & Rustin' Man: Out of Season (2002)

As collaborations go, the partnership of Portishead's ghostly singer Beth Gibbons and Paul "Rustin' Man" Webb (former bassist of 80s pop band Talk Talk) seems an extremely unlikely one. However, as Out of Season shows, the pair–who met in 1990 when Gibbons auditioned for Webb's post Talk Talk band O'Rang–have a surprising amount in common, including a love of supremely melancholic melodies and eerily atmospheric backdrops. Ambling quietly from the mournful folk of "Mysteries", through the twilight piano lament of "Show" and the uneasy cinematic sway of "Spyder", Out of Season creates a dreamily sinister otherworld that's both vintage and timeless. Yet, despite relying solely on beautifully bittersweet melodies and acoustic instrumentation to conjure its twisted romance–instead of the usual murky trip-hop beats and studio manipulation associated with Gibbons' dysfunctional songs–the fundamental chill of Portishead is ever present. And that's because, for all the wonderful, sleepy lullabies, it's the haunting isolation that fills Gibbons' every note that captivates. Even on the gorgeously hazy lounge tunes "Romance" and "Sand River"–both brimming with Burt Bacharach style optimism–she manages to sound like Dusty Springfield with a dark and tragic secret. She has an amazingly affecting voice, which makes Out of Season a truly magical album.

Track Listings
01. Mysteries
02. Tom the model
03. Show
04. Romance
05. Sand river
06. Spider monkey
07. Resolve
08. Drake
09. Funny time of year
10. Rustin' Man

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