Portishead will be playing for the first time in seven years for this concert in support of the Tsunami relief efforts. The concert is to take place on February 19th at the Bristol Academy.

It's a good cause and, if I could make it overseas, I'd be right there to see Portishead share the stage with one of my other favorite bands, Massive Attack. The Coral and Robert Plant are signed on as well, with other acts sure to follow.

After looking at Beth Gibbons', Portishead's singer, site, it's become even more clear that the band is unlikely to ever record together again. She's been consciously working on new directions for her career, taking more of a stand as a songwriter. I'm sure the other members have done the same.

This brings up some strange feelings as I've been a fan of their music for around six years now. By the time I found them they had already released their entire catalog. This included the New York concert on DVD. During the years that followed I would be continuously heartbroken over rumors of them reuniting and recording.

Even though they have only produced two full length albums, a short film, and a concert on CD, DVD, and VHS, they've still made one of the largest impacts on my musical tastes. Without Portishead, I never would have found Massive Attack, Lamb, Tricky, DJ Shadow, DJ Krush, Goldfrapp, Mum, Kid Koala, and countless others.

I almost don't want them to get together again. One of two things would happen: 1.They could end up writing the best music of their careers, or, 2. They could end up sounding like a Portishead cover band. At this point the fire is probably gone, and any attempt to reignite would simply backfire into a cloud of soot.

It's probably best to simply bid farewell and wish them luck. 

UPDATE:

Pitchfork Media has an article about Portishead working on a new album slated for release late in 2005.

-Thanks to Tom Johnson for the info.