January 19, 2005 12:52

PORTISHEAD-ING BACK!

The band are near to completing their first LP in eight years…

Portishead are recording their first album in eight years.

The band have nearly completed their third LP, according to founding member Geoff Barrow.

He said: "We're actually into it as we speak. We took some time off for Christmas, but generally we're doing another record."

Barrow told BBC 6 Music that he was surprised people thought the band had split up, saying: "We've just had our heads down really, we've never actually broken up, or parted, or whatever."

He added: "So for us it just seems, even though we haven't played for years, we still see each other and write - we just haven't released a record for a long time."

As previously reported on NME.COM, Portishead - who won a Mercury Music Prize in 1995 for their debut album ’Dummy’ - will join Massive Attack for a gig at the Bristol Academy (February 19) to raise money for Oxfam’s tsunami appeal.

However, the band are not expected to play any new material at the show, which will feature singer Beth Gibbons playing with an acoustic backing.

Other acts on the bill include Coral and Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant. A website has been set up at crisisinasia.com.