The Portal is the first new music from Martin Green (best known as one-third of the folk trio, Lau) since his acclaimed “Flit” album (2016). The new single was made in collaboration with electronic producer and DJ James Holden (Holden has previously remixed Depeche Mode, Radiohead and Madonna whilst his label Border Community has released a string of pioneering sounds by the likes of Leafcutter John and Nathan Fake alongside his own music).
The Portal track is an epic new sound world of thumping folk-tronica – think Bothy Culture meets Kraftwerk – released by Reveal Records on August 7th 2020 and followed by a full album release on September 25th, to coincide with the launch of 12 episode podcast.
It tells a story of obsession, 40 years of nightlife and 4,000 years of human connection. Listen to The Portal title track, also our Song of the Day, and read more about the project below which features contributions from the likes of Radie Peat (Lankum), Brìghde Chaimbeul, Kate Young and more.
Pre-Order https://martingreenmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-portal
More about The Portal Podcast and Album
Lose yourself in a story of obsession, 40 years of nightlife and 4,000 years of human connection. In The Portal, Martin Green, Wils Wilson and David Greig have woven together a tale of love, music, drugs and deceit over 12 episodes available on Apple Music/Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and all good podcast platforms from 25 September.
A story of two obsessive sound-recordists, and lovers torn apart by circumstance. Etteridge and Angela left us the most incredible collection of 20th-century documentation ever made.
From 1947 to 1988 they never met. They recorded any and every aspect of London nightlife, from war-time dance-halls to the legendary M25 raves. But these recordings never saw the light of day until they were discovered in 2016.
Why did they keep these tapes secret? Because for 40 years these parted lovers had been leaving messages for each other in these recordings, a dark, dark story left for us to piece together.
The Portal has been created by Martin Green, winner of the Ivor Novello Award for composing in 2019 for Aeons, a sound installation that was part of the Great Exhibition of the North, in collaboration with Opera North. Martin is best known as one third of the folk trio, Lau. This dark tale is not a true story but a Fictional Podcast inspired by moments in Martin’s childhood.
Cast includes Dylan Read as Etteridge, Anna Russell Martin & Alison Peebles as Angela. Cast also includes Robbie Jack, Owen Whitelaw, Nadia Albina, Jessica Hardwick and Amanda Wilkin.
Martin has collaborated with a fantastic creative team to realise The Portal. The Podcast is directed by Wils Wilson, who has created performances for The National Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland, The National Theatre of Wales, Bristol Old Vic and the Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh amongst many other critically acclaimed productions.
Dramaturgy is by David Greig, the multi award winning writer and Artistic Director of The Royal Lyceum in Edinburgh who has written work for Royal Shakespeare Company, Paines Plough, Edinburgh International Festival, National Theatre of Scotland, The Barbican and adapted Charlie and the Chocolate factory for Drury Lane Theatre, London. Sound design is by Eloise Whitmore, Radio Sound Designer and Producer of Year, who has won numerous awards and worked on productions including BBC’s Tunnel 29, Maxine Peake’s Beryl: A love Story on Two Wheels and created work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
The Portal album features contributions by Yasaman Najmeddin, James Holden, Radie Peat, RTE Folk Singer of the Year, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Radio 2 Young Folk Musician award winner 2016 and Horizon Award 2019 winner, and Kate Young winner of the Paul Hamlyn Award for Composers 2018 and album of the year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2017.
The Portal is delighted to be working the following incredible arts organisations: co-commissioned by Edinburgh International Festival, Southbank Centre, Oxford Contemporary Music, National Theatre of Scotland, Shetland Arts, The North Wall, MacArts Galashiels and funded by Creative Scotland.
Where you can listen:
Podcast will be available on Apple Music/Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and all good podcast platforms.
The album, will also be available from all streaming platforms worldwide and strictly limited CD physical formats available direct from artist and label sites:
revealrecords.bigcartel.com/artist/martin-green
Photo Credit: Mihaela Bodlovic