Album Review: PORTES “National Anthems”

1. Lazarus

I love the instrumentation on this track. It reminded me immediately of something a band like “Portishead” would start their record off with. The synths and instrumentation pull you in immediately with their dark but sultry undertones and melody. Then comes her vocals. Unexpected, yet welcomed, and completely different styling from her previous releases, PORTES comes out with a vengeance rapping about her political views. The chorus is a great balance of emotions – from the poetic rapping styles to the soothing vocal singing style, perfectly blended with the instrumentals makes this song a powerful political statement.

2. Pressure

I love the futuristic vibe this song starts off with.  The production for this record is dark yet intriguing, and the vocals pair very well with it. It’s very reminiscent of old school Bjork, with Daft Punk stylings on the production end. The subtle but dark brass instrumentation adds an especially dark element and vibe, and paired with the equally dark percussion and synth sounds, it takes this song to a whole new level. This would be a perfect song to go to war or battle, and PORTES nailed the feeling of “pressure” in every sense.

3. Closer

This song starts with a deep, dark synth and ride cymbals, drawing you in. It gives me major “Sabotage” vibes (by the Beastie Boys). Shouting out fake news, and exposing her powerful political views, this song certainly made a big statement. The percussion in particular speaks volumes with the dark snare rolls, and booming kick drum. All in all, a great political song that’s catchy and voices her true stance.

4. Sister

Exactly what this world needs right now is unity. This song tells the haunting truth of female struggles and abuse. The melody of the piano is soft, and a complete contrast to the rest of the record. The chorus is my favorite, encouraging all women to come together as one, as ‘sisters’. Another catchy one, with a very important message. A very simple and subtle production -yet such a powerful statement is being made. Easily one of my favorites on the record.

5. In Lockstep

The synths that begin this song have a very steampunk energy to it. Dark, yet still poppy somehow, this song brings together the energy of the entire record. The breakdown/ending really caught me off guard in a good way. Another song that captures perfectly the image of battle and war in my mind, this is a perfect ending to the political record we didn’t know we needed.