"Timescape", the new album by Anglo-Irish folk-pop duo The Portraits, followed a thrilling worldwind period working in Cape Town with local South African musicians, renowned studio wizard Simon "Fuzzy" Ratcliffe, and contributions from Portishead side-kick Pete Judge on brass. Released in late 2008, the colourful follow up to the duo's critically

"Timescape", the new album by Anglo-Irish folk-pop duo The Portraits, followed a thrilling worldwind period working in Cape Town with local South African musicians, renowned studio wizard Simon "Fuzzy" Ratcliffe, and contributions from Portishead side-kick Pete Judge on brass. Released in late 2008, the colourful follow up to the duo's critically acclaimed first album "Kin" (2006) blends the choiry feel of the duo’s trademark vocal arrangements with an electronic worldiness, and a new instrumental flavour emanating from the inclusion of cellos, giant African percussion troups, ethnic flutes...and just the odd smattering of Bristolian trumpetting. The result may hint at a Brian Wilson wall of vocals and the honest song writing style of the likes of Ben Folds or Heather Nova, but a uniquely Portraits-ish tapestry of cellos, flutes, trumpets, electronics and world instruments ensures that the new album is a curiously intoxicating and unique listen.

As with all of our downloads, you set the price and 1/3 of the proceeds go to a school for poor children in Burma.