Portishead’s Beth Gibbons is back – on her own

Beth Gibbons’ solo debut is a draught of quaffable sorrow, borne of silence and slow time. It’s her first studio offering in 16 years, and hearing her distinctly restive quaver again automatically conjures the same end-of-land sadness perfected by her band, Portishead. Appalachian folk influence abounds, but Gibbons and producer James Ford dredge too many unexpected and haunted sounds from the well to warrant classification. The rust-hinged strings on the standout Whispering Love complement Gibbons’ will-o’-the-wisp vocals, beseeching a lover long gone to “come through my heart when you can”. Lives Outgrown, like Gibbons herself, is a beguiling and infinitely rewarding mystery. If your favourite film is Melancholia, this is your new summer jam.