30 Years of Trip-Hop: The Legacy of Portishead’s Dummy
The Enduring Influence of Trip-Hop
It’s been three decades since Portishead’s groundbreaking album Dummy took home the Mercury Prize, solidifying the trip-hop scene in Bristol. The genre’s distinctive sound—characterized by its woozy turntablism—continues to resonate across the pop landscape today. Artists like Sky Ferreira, a.s.o., and crushed draw on the pitch-shifted melancholy and bass-heavy brooding that defined trip-hop’s heyday. The genre’s ability to juxtapose wistful vocals with stark, computerized rhythms serves as an aesthetic shorthand for themes such as nihilism, existentialism, and accelerationism, making it a fitting backdrop for introspective musings, as demonstrated by yeule in their latest album, Evangelic Girl is a Gun.
yeule’s Nostalgic Exploration
yeule has a history of wielding nostalgia as a powerful artistic tool. In 2023, their album softscars utilized elements of nu-metal and grunge to amplify feelings of rage, while the previous year’s Glitch Princess incorporated influences from mid-2000s indie folk into its complex sonic architecture. Much of yeule’s work grapples with themes of dissociation and disconnection, exploring the physical and emotional struggles of escaping one’s own body. Their most compelling tracks ground this disembodiment in relatable human experiences—whether it’s the simple strum of an acoustic guitar in “dazies” or the visceral intensity of a scream in “x w x.” However, on Evangelic Girl is a Gun, yeule seems to deflate the tension that made their previous projects resonate, offering songs that blur into their heavily referenced inspirations.
Production Quality and Musical Composition
Despite its shortcomings, Evangelic Girl is a Gun is not a difficult listen. The album features slow, shuffling rhythms and bluesy basslines reminiscent of Moby and Massive Attack, while tracks like “VV” echo the soft rock of the 2000s, akin to artists like Ingrid Michaelson and Natasha Bedingfield. With contributions from notable producers such as A.G. Cook, Clams Casino, and Mura Masa, the album boasts a polished sound filled with intricate details—like the click of a gun reloading in “Saiko” or the flash of a camera in “1967.” However, despite its promises of sex and violence, the album ultimately becomes tedious.
Short Yet Repetitive
At just 31 minutes, Evangelic Girl is a Gun stands as yeule’s shortest release to date. Yet, its repetitiveness makes it feel much longer. The sluggish, droning beats of the first two tracks create an atmosphere that drips along at a morphiated pace. Key moments in songs like “Eko” and “1967”—which should deliver climactic energy—get lost in a clutter of vocal filters, undermining their intended impact. “Skullcrusher” exemplifies this issue; its overwhelming volume and slow tempo almost make it sound like a track exported at half speed. Unlike the emotional anchors found in “dazies” from softscars or the raw vulnerability in “Don’t Be So Hard on Your Own Beauty” from Glitch Princess, Evangelic Girl is a Gun struggles to establish a sense of emotional depth, resulting in a flat listening experience.
Conclusion
While Evangelic Girl is a Gun demonstrates yeule’s continued exploration of nostalgia and disembodiment, it ultimately falls short of the impact achieved in their earlier works. The album’s repetitive nature and lack of emotional resonance render it less compelling than its predecessors. As trip-hop continues to echo through contemporary music, the genre’s ability to blend the wistful with the mechanical remains a potent artistic tool, but yeule’s latest offering highlights the challenges of creating something fresh and impactful within that legacy.
FAQs
What is trip-hop?
Trip-hop is a genre of music that originated in the early 1990s, primarily in Bristol, England. It blends elements of hip-hop, electronic music, and ambient sounds, often featuring melancholic vocals and introspective lyrics.
Who are some notable trip-hop artists?
Some of the most notable trip-hop artists include Portishead, Massive Attack, Tricky, and more recently, artists like yeule and Sky Ferreira, who draw on the genre’s influences.
What themes are commonly explored in trip-hop music?
Trip-hop often explores themes of nostalgia, disconnection, existentialism, and emotional turmoil, using a combination of electronic and live instrumentation to create a distinctive soundscape.
How does yeule’s music fit into the trip-hop genre?
yeule incorporates elements of trip-hop in their music through their use of atmospheric production, melancholic melodies, and introspective lyrics, while also blending influences from various other genres like grunge and indie rock.
