"Chase the Tear" is a single by the English band Portishead. It was released in digital format on 10 December 2009,[1][2] for Human Rights Day to raise money for Amnesty International.[3] It reached number 164 in the UK charts.[4] It was later released as a limited edition 12-inch vinyl single by XL Recordings on 14 November 2011, with all proceeds going to Amnesty International.[5][6] The 200 signed copies of the vinyl were sold in advance at Independent Label Market on 8 October 2011.[7][8]
| "Chase the Tear" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Portishead | ||||
| Released | 10 December 2009 | |||
| Genre | Electronic rock | |||
| Length | 5:15 | |||
| Label | Amnesty | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Portishead | |||
| Portishead singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Live performance
editThe song was performed live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on 5 October 2011.[9] It was the group's first U.S. television appearance since 1998.[10]
Critical reception
editThe song was chosen as Pitchfork's "Best New Track".[11] David Raposa said, "The shockingly simple beat Geoff Barrow bangs out (as you can see in this fantastic video), coupled with the bubbling electronics seething behind it, finds Portishead effortlessly cruising down this particularly overcast stretch of the Autobahn."[11] Peter Gaston of Spin commented that "it's absolutely spellbinding, with a hypnotic analog synth line pulsing beneath Beth Gibbons' spectral vocals — much akin to the vibe of the group's spectacular 2008 album, Third."[12] Meanwhile, Peter Macia of The Fader stated, "It sounds almost nothing like the brutal melancholy of the group's recent Third, and actually doesn't sound like any of their old stuff either."[13]
Track listing
edit12-inch vinyl single
- Side A
- "Chase the Tear" – 5:15
- Side B
- "Chase the Tear (Doldrums Reimagine)" – 5:15
Personnel
editCredits adapted from the 12-inch vinyl single's liner notes.
- Portishead – performance (side A), production (side A), mixing (side A)
- Craig Silvey – mixing (side A)
- Stuart Matthews – engineering (side A)
- Rik Dowding – engineering (side A)
- Errhead – performance (side B), production (side B), mixing (side B), engineering (side B)
Charts
edit| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Physical Singles (OCC)[14] | 12 |
Cover version
editThe song was covered by Fotocrime, an American band led by former Coliseum frontman Ryan Patterson.[15] It was included on Fotocrime's 2022 EP of covers, titled Alcoves.[15]
References
edit- ^ Studarus, Laura (10 December 2009). "Portishead "Chase the Tear" a New Amnesty International Single". Under the Radar. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Norman, Aaron (11 December 2009). "Portishead Releases "Chase the Tear" Single as Benefit for Human Rights". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Roffman, Michael (9 December 2009). "Check Out: Portishead – "Chase The Tear"". Consequence. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ "Chase the Tear by Portishead". Music VF. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- ^ "Portishead to release 'Chase the tear' as limited edition vinyl for Amnesty". Amnesty International. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- ^ "Portishead's 'Chase The Tear' receives vinyl release". Fact. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Glenn (6 October 2011). "XL To Release Portishead's "Chase the Tear" On Limited 12"". XLR8R. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ Battan, Carrie (6 October 2011). "Watch Portishead on "Fallon"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "New Portishead Single 'Chase The Tear'". The Quietus. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ Roffman, Michael (6 October 2011). "Video: Portishead "Chase the Tear" on Fallon". Consequence. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b Raposa, David (5 January 2010). "Portishead: "Chase the Tear" Track Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Gaston, Peter (10 December 2009). "Portishead Release Stunning New Song". Spin. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ Macia, Peter (10 December 2009). "Video: Portishead, "Chase The Tear" + MP3". The Fader. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Chase The Tear – Portishead". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ a b Breihan, Tom (6 July 2022). "Fotocrime – "Chase The Tear" (Portishead Cover)". Stereogum. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
External links
edit- "Chase the Tear" at Discogs (list of releases)