Portishead's Adrian Utley - Our Generation | Rotosound
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- Опубліковано 27 тра 2024
- Spy inside the studio of Portishead's Adrian Utley and discover what inspires his creative process.
Utley's “entire life is music”, so incidentally we find him in his home studio surrounded by equipment he has used on sessions for the likes of Goldfrapp, Massive Attack, and Radiohead's Philip Selway. “It doesn't matter if it's really cheap or if it's really expensive,” Adrian is more interested in finding an “esoteric sound” and over the years he has used Rotosound strings to get it.
Growing up playing bass in holiday camps, Adrian Utley stepped up to become a professional session guitarist, playing with Big John Patton and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and Jeff Beck, before concentrating on his original project Portishead with friends Beth Gibbons and Geoff Barrow. The trio's debut album 'Dummy' was met with critical acclaim and is now regarded as somewhat of a soundtrack to the 1990s. Utley's guitar and bass playing is a big influence on the band's cinematic sound; this interview explores some of Adrian's influences and gear choices that helped shape the atmospheric guitar tones of Portishead and his other works.
Adrian Utley uses Rotosound British Steels, Pure Nickels, and Tru Bass 88 strings.
• Chapters:
00:00 Recording guitar for Dummy by Portishead
00:36 Introduction
01:02 Adrian Utley's guitar sound
01:55 Classic British guitar gear
02:24 Playing Rotosound guitar strings
02:56 Guitar heroes
03:35 Playing with Jeff Beck
04:19 Adrian's approach to Portishead
04:58 Session guitar work
05:41 Rotosound Tru Bass 88 strings
06:50 Paul McCartney's black nylon bass strings
07:34 Getting into bass guitar
07:58 Recording bass guitar for Dummy
08:49 Bass inspiration
• Links:
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Fantastic & enlightening insight into Adrian’s mantra & process. I was studying guitar-making in ‘95 when I first heard Dummy. It completely & utterly blew me away. 28 years later it continues to do so and is still my favourite album by MILES! It is majestic… an absolute masterpiece.
Brilliant video… really inspirational. Those Tru-bass strings sound killer… will be getting some of those.
My personal favourite is the live roseland ballroom album.
It is amazing how Portishead albums sound so fresh, decades later.
The fact that he still uses the present tense, "I'm in the band Portishead", gives me hope we'll eventually get a fourth album.
Well they do still play live, but I would give up hope on a fourth album.
I'm an Uber driver, and I often play Dummy while I work. Just like In Rainbows, any time I play it I get lots of compliments. It's a great album!
Nice! Hope to get you as an Uber driver in the future 😁Love Radiohead's In Rainbows too
Dummy and In Rainbows are absolutely in my Top 5 all time albums. That will likely never change.
The fuzzy, rubbery, old sound that resonates so well in a rainy night. All 3 Portishead albums are fantastic sonic experiences.
I hope he and the rest of the band make another album - “Third” is a masterpiece.
Adrian is one of my favourite guitarists, very underrated. I love the fact that he doesn't care if something is expensive or cheap, it's all about the sound you get out of it.
The fact is that the person listening to the song doesn't know how much a piece of gear costs - just whether it sounds right on the record
All 4 Portishead albums (Roseland included) are simply a part of my life. They are building blocks within the framework of who and what I am. Nothing less. The idea of quietly sitting in on a session with Adrian and Jeff Beck just noodling about blows my mind. I'd love to hear what Adrian would do with Tal Wilkenfield...
I think Third is Adrian’s masterpiece. A monolith of pain, anguish, and uncertainty without equal.
"I'm not gonna be slappin the bass" wise words.
That was great i loved that. he's such a legend, Portishead one of my all time favourites.
"I'd ripped all the frets out of my Fender Precision copy, and that was the sound of Dummy" What a quote!!! Love Portishead
HAVING THIS GUY PRODUCING OUR NEXT ALBUM WOULD BE A DREAM
why don't you contact him then ...he's still in OC...
@@Dave-el6rh WELL THE MONEY IS THE MAIN PROBLEM HERE ......
Man, in the nineties I was so into trip-hop , acid jazz and the Bristol sound I almost packed up and moved to England. Utley was and is one of my guitar heroes. Love his work including stuff outside of Portishead. Love seeing more about his process.
He is great, and this was super insightful. Love what he said about "spy" sounds. Portishead's music was the first music that stopped me in my tracks...it was so enigmatic yet so beautiful. I discovered them late, in 2001 and the "thaw" after 9/11
Portishead reached the timeless category
It's best not to learn the songs of your Heroes, they lose the Magic. And I got to the point when I figured out enough Alex Lifeson that it became apparent that he was only using the same 12 notes as everyone else, and got mad, I soon figured out the next step in the learning process and realized it was his Combinations of the Notes. And as I learned more Music I could see how unique he was. Then I realized what turned me on to Music was Geddy's Bass on Moving Pictures. I had no idea what a Bass was. Before the Internet we was real slow learners.
I don't know any Hendrix but the Main Riffs you had to learn, mostly because he tunes Down to Eb and it feels odd on anything but a Strat, lots of Eb players I don't know much from, they are a inspiration more than a influence. 🍁
Wish this was about an hour longer...
One of the greatest bands of any generation ever.
Absolutely without equal, sonically ❤
Great musician, lovely chap.
When I understood the major role that guitar players had in Enigma, Portishead and Massive Attack, I began rating Mr. Utley to the max 🙂
I also love the black trubass strings but they sound amazing on that bass. Just a cheap bass but totally sounds deep and full.
I had a set of these on a fretless and they lasted decades.
I've never tried flat wounds but I'm sold. Funny how much we're creatures of habit.
Adrian's the best.
If you go into a music shop to buy guitar strings, you are most commonly offered Ernie Ball or Gibson. They are both good choices. The reason I like Rotosound is the way they batch their string packs. If you want to get two different voices from the same instrument, get the Rotosound. You can get heavier bass strings with some of their packs, or if you want to stay high, spare thin strings in case they break.
Portishead is the perfect example of quality about quantity. Absolutely in the antipodes of how music industry works, as well and musicians and producers just flooding everything with mediocre products, thinking on social media numbers, on going viral,rather than music itself.
Portishead makes good music , doesnt need any of the marketing bs to be on the top of all times greatests bands.
Hi Adrian if you read this it's Andy from our first band Eskimo Jo when we were at Northamton College. Like your stuff with Portishead better than The Army..lol. Well keep at it, it's great stuff.
Amazing sound and playing with that Commodore bass
Underrated guitar player.
Adrian always finds parts that are sonically interesting without getting in the way of the song
32 M view - Portishead - Glory Box... so is not so underrated, i think
@@nicolasgeiser1556 It is the norm for a compliment, 'they're underrated' even if they're widely known.
201 million streams in spotify. combine that with other streaming platforms. it probably has like 500 million streams lol. nobody uses youtube to listen to music these days@@nicolasgeiser1556
Portishead were truly one of kind, I always loved that Adrian's guitar had that same edginess as Beth Gibbon's voice.
I was so hoping he would play just one tiny bit of a Portishead riff 🙏
such a class act Adrian ....Portishead, ---------> 100 percent "pure class" in music
You are a hero for music
i would like to add that marshal 100 watt amp heads with 4 12 cabs aka "stacks"were the loudest amps made at that time. jimi hendrix wanted something louder than what his usa supro combos could give him. marshal was the first to make a stack and jimi bought a few retail as soon as he heard about them because they were the LOUDEST thing on the market. :) . he then was sponsored by sunn who came out with their own head and cab units. i know marshal lovers will point out that it is "jimis"amp and that may be true but also the reason behind that initially was that they were insanely loud. the absolutely loudest guitar amp ever made at that time. so no one had ever heard someone play guitar that loud before. literally. :)
As a record collector certain finds give me a massive dopamine boost. Dummy was one of them. Come on UHQR we need a Dummy reissue!
bass looks like an Aria variant from early 1970s, had a couple and they were deceptively decent
Utley Brilliant!
portishead is under appreciated imo. theres nothing else like them executed at that high of a level of production. the odd and even harmonics of their records are brilliant
mega - what a sound on Dummy. Hadn't realised he played with jeff beck - great stuff!
Great to see the our generation series back 😊
Thanks James! You're episode is here: ua-cam.com/video/5S8RIrI4lvs/v-deo.htmlsi=mrwzSfomMEVkB9Uw
Great interview, thx Rotosound! And that Glory Box solo... that's so modest, yet stylish and tasty!
Living legend right there.
My favorite band/group of all time. 🅿 The perfect moody dark blend of all the greatest genre's. I hope and dream we will get another PORTISHEAD album soon! Much respect Mr. Utley. and Thank you for the Video, Rotosound
Thanks for your comment! Indeed, much respect to Mr Utley and thanks for all the music 🎶
A highly interesting interview with a man I deeply appreciate!
one string he plays you know is adrian, one the greatest guitar players and musicians
Live in Roseland is my favorite live concert, I think it is the most fantastic and unique live concert I've seen, blending all sorts of technologies like echoplex and synthesizers with a live orchestra it is always a joy to watch.
Unique beings creating unique sounds. Few things I love more than this.
the master speaking. what adrian created is absolute masterpieces and deeply inspirational... gorgeous musician and my favorite producer
We were there watching him when they played in Ottawa Canada like 23 years ago. Brilliant thank you!
I just worry your female singer smokes too much.
At the Congress Centre, right? I was there too! In my top three best concerts. Surprised by how powerful Beth’s voice could get.
Love Portishead! More please
An absolute hero.
What a legend! I envy him. His life is around and about music. Love Portishead sound. To me it's a cornerstone of British sound and music in general. Thanks for the video, @rotosound.
this is amazing. thank you!
One of the inspiring producers of our time.
I remember Adrian when we were at Northampton Art college together in 1976, he was slim and had long hair back then.
We were all slim back then. 😁
Beautiful portrait of him! The Portishead concert at Roseland got me into trip hop and the guitar parts are a big reason for this.
superb little piece!! more more more!
This man's voice brings me all the way back to Sonic State.
Man, what a ride!
Great Artist 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
Good interview🙏👍
Please make more portishead
Such a fantastic interview with a phenomenal, incredibly influential band. Love it!
What a rad player!
Please??!! 🙏 May we have another Portishead album?
My guitar hero!
Great Video :) Awesome Production and Fantastic Lighting :) I’ve Played Rotosound flats on my p-bass for years!!!
Cheers Grant! The lighting was mostly the natural light coming in from the windows. Adrian's studio has a wonderful vibe
That was great!
Would have liked him to have gone through a few of his guitar tones and effects
Just got a short scale bass, and I bet those 88's would be brilliant on it. Hmm.
Cool video! Anyone know the the exact name of the vintage acoustic in the background in the middle? Thanks
Quit talking and make a 4th Portishead album already! 😂👍🏻
They owe you nothing
most awesome! P=❤
Man, I wish they'd played a few more live shows.
Not sure what "spy sounds" are.
I'm going with the music he heard in Bond movies growing up.
Or that '60 general twangy but not surf guitar.
Love Portishead and their "spy sounds"
I love Portishead's Dummy album, and I love how UK folks say things like "utter shite"
Gold
What I respect most about Portishead and mr. Utley is that after more than a decade they manage to invent themselves and came with a solid third album. Maybe more solid than the others.
And I am very very glad to see them live in Istanbul.
New song!
A true top quality artist/producer of my generation 👏
commodore was an Aria parent brand offshoot for a sales catalogue . I think the aria parent was called matsuoka
Thanks for the insightful information
@@rotosound_ukMatsumoku was the manufacturer...they did indeed make the Aria brand, as well as Epiphone from '69-'86
💜💜💜💜
WILL WE PLEASE GET THAT FOURTH ALBUM BEFORE ONE OF YOU GUYS.... I'm not even gonna say it. Give us one more album pleaaase.
legened
I play 20 chords. I barely know Portishead. I absolutely enjoyed this - everything about it. Thanks
The Quakers record was out of control
Thank you, I completely missed this.
Slapaa da bass 😭😭
💗💗💗💗💗💗💗
Hold your groove together with Rotosound strings! The Who, The Who sellout lp.
What a great video, thanks a lot for that! Did anyone catch the bass amp he's playing through? Sounds phenomenal!
Wow that’s just the bass sound I’ve been trying to get myself on my recordings, the Mccartney/Kaye sound with pick. I think I’ve managed to get it but maybe I should get some flat wound strings too?
You should give them a go - strings have a huge effect on the sound
Have you tried a mute first? Not against flats though. Carol Kaye had a foam mute under the strings and played with a pick. Oh yeah she used roundwounds
I think he underestimates its own work or is very humble.
Dummy is one of a kind trip hop album like The Mezzanine.
stand up bloke... cheers
If they're goid enough for for Adrian Utley, theyre good enough for me.
I need some new strings, so these will be my next purchase. Ive never tried Rotosounds before.
Nice one! Give them a spin - you'll never go back
ok, how do you get that bass sound? like what kind of bass guitar/string/amp combo gets you that sound? i love it, but i have no idea how to produce that. anyone?
Here's the signal chain for this video: Tru Bass 88 tapewound strings > vintage Commodore bass > Wallace amplifier > vintage dynamic mic > Zoom H6 recorder. No EQ or effects. Get some worn-in tapewound strings and mute as you pick.
@@rotosound_uk awesome, thanks for the quick and thorough info!
For a real budget stick something under the strings near the bridge, or a bit of masking tape to dull the sound. Get flat wound RS strings, use a pick and study Carol Kaye.
Maxi-Korg FTW
very interesting.
Dummy 😎😎😎😎😎
No Jimi used Fender Rocke n Roller 10, 12, 15, 26, 32, 38
This photo shows Jimi with his Rotosound strings: www.rotosound.com/blog/portfolio-item/jimi-hendrix-noel-redding-at-the-purley-orchid-ballroom/
@@rotosound_uk look again. They are for Noel’s bass.
They are bass strings.
Jimi Hendrix NEVER used VOX. Marshall, Sound City, Sunn and Fender. He also used Fender strings...
watkins westminster
I missed it. What sort of strings did he day he uses ..... 😂
Thanks for everything Adrian, Portishead had a massive imprint on the dna of our music, worshiping at the temple of vibe and texture and not caring how you get there. And yeah... bass is everything, treble is optional... and overrated!
Interestingly, Carol Kaye, who offers bass lessons, refuses to teach playing with a pick. Kinda funny.