Portishead’s 1994 classic album ‘Dummy’ gets vinyl reissue on August 13th.

August 22nd, marks the 20th anniversary of Portishead’s  dark trip-hop masterpiece ‘Dummy.’ And to coincide with this milestone, the band will be reissuing the 1994 album on vinyl.

The band made the announcement via their official website:

To mark the 20^th anniversary of the release, in August 1994, of “Dummy”, Portishead will be re-issuing the album on vinyl , pressed on 180 gram heavyweight vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve.  

There will be no additional material on the re-issue, with the songs remaining exactly as recorded on the original release. The first 1000 copies of the record will be pressed on blue vinyl before reverting to heavyweight black vinyl. Each album will contain a download card of “Dummy”.  We’ll be posting a link on Wednesday 13th August.

The band are currently touring Europe. And it also looks like they’re working on new material. Bandmember/guitarist Adrien Utley told the Quietus that “We’re clearing our schedules so we can get on with it, otherwise it will be another ten years.” He attributed the delay to various other projects, including Geoff Barrow’s band Beak, and vocalist Beth Gibbon’s upcoming solo album. This would be the band’s first new material since 2008’s excellent ‘Third.’  

Click here to listen to Beth Gibbon’s cover Black Sabbath 

The band has never been one to put out releases quickly (hence only three studio albums and one live album between 1994 and 2008), But their slow approach always appears to work in their favor, giving their dark loungey electronica a timeless appeal. ‘

Later this month I’ll be exploring just how influential and groundbreaking Portishead’s ‘Dummy‘ is in our Albums Revisited segment. To see what other landmark albums I’ve covered (many of which also turn 20 this year), click here to view the full list.