Trip-hop/Female-fronted "outfits"?

[Somnium]

So within the last 2 weeks I've developed a strong affinity for Portishead, been jamming their self-titled and Third albums nonstop at my work and I used to listen to Dummy every day as well last year. On top of my new-found Portishead addiction, I've also been listening to Massive Attack's Mezzanine and 100th Window albums repeatedly. I plan on picking up copies of Dummy, Blue Lines, and Protection soon when I get paid, but can anyone recommend any other artists I might enjoy? So far in my journey I've stumbled across Esthero's Breath from Another, Everything but the Girl's Walking Wounded, and Tricky's Maxinquaye, all of which fell short of my expectations. DJ Shadow's (or maybe DJ Spooky's? I always get them mixed up...) Endtroducing is another one I've been meaning to check out, and I've been meaning to check out some Bjork too (so far I've only listened to the Death Grips remixes, but I have Post and Medulla at my work), but I'm lazy and haven't done so yet, hence this thread.

So to elaborate, I guess I'm looking for some good female fronted groups, preferably in the trip-hop vein or at least "beat-driven", but I'm open to anything really. If nothing else, we can all just talk about how awesome Portishead is.

 

[wankerness]

Bjork's "Homogenic" is probably the one you'd like the most, Volta is more beat-driven too. I haven't heard her last album, i would expect it to be more in the vein of Volta. Medulla is my favorite album of hers but it's all made out of vocal overdubs (electronically manipulated on many songs) though so I dunno if it will be what you're looking for.

I'm not sure what aspects of Portishead are important to you. Later "The Gathering" has similar soundscapes but it's a lot less icy than Portishead is, mostly due to the singer's voice. They also came from a prog rock/metal background which I don't think Portishead did.




The Knife is by far my favorite scary electro-group with a female singer currently, they might be too out-there for you. Here's some stuff from them in increasing order of weird.





I listen to a ton of female-fronted electronic stuff but most if it is not very similar to portishead AT ALL. Goldfrapp, Imogen Heap/Frou Frou, School of Seven Bells, some Sia & Dido, that kind of thing. I'll have to check out the other stuff you mentioned in the OP. I'm familiar with massive attack of course but haven't heard of the others. My favorite Massive Attack stuff is sadly that short split with Burial.

 

[Bloody_Inferno]

Regarding Bjork, check out both Homogenic and Vespertine. 2 of her darkest albums imo.

 

[Cnev]

Vespertine is a must own if you are looking into Bjork. Brilliant album and the Opera House DVD remains one of the most beautiful live performances I have ever seen or heard.

Have you heard Mandalay? A lot of it reminds me quite a bit of 90's era Massive Attack with a hint of Gibbons' vocal flavor.





I think it's pretty lovely stuff.

You might also want to give Lamb a little attention. They're pretty hit and miss with me but I absolutely love some of the stuff they've done.



I wish i knew more, but unfortunately I feel like there is a reason why Massive Attack and Portishead are held in such high regard by so many people. There really isn't anything like them!

 

[Somnium]

Thanks for the feedback guys, should keep me fairly busy tonight. @Wankerness, it's funny you should mention Burial. Along with my new trip hop fetish I've been listening to a lot of UK dubstep (if that's what the technical term is; I'm still new to all of this stuff lol), mostly The Bug and Loefah. I've tried several times to get into Burial, but the only song I've liked so far is Fostercare. Another artist I recently discovered, like 2 days ago maybe, is Emika. The word on the streets is that she worked for Native Instruments or something like that. Anyway, she's mad gorgeous, has a nice voice, and she brings the bassweight. She's also signed to Ninja Tune, so yeah you might dig her shizzzz.

 

[wankerness]

Regarding Bjork, check out both Homogenic and Vespertine. 2 of her darkest albums imo.

Homogenic has some of her bigger "hits" and has more electronic beat stuff, Vespertine on the other hand has this really organic icy sound to it, there's a ton of harp and stuff on it and most of the songs are very strange and icy sounding. It's definitely not trip-hoppy at all in any way, haha. I love it and everyone should still listen to it of course. That and Medulla and Homogenic just dwarf the rest of her catalog imo, I almost never find myself listening to any of her others cause those three are just so great.

 

[AdamMaz]

DJ Shadow's (or maybe DJ Spooky's? I always get them mixed up...) Endtroducing is another one I've been meaning to check out

DJ Shadow and I cannot stress enough how great of an album it is



Clams Casino. He has been producing mostly for hip hop artists, but his sound fits in very well with this style of music, especially when you consider he samples from it a lot. He has released 3 instrumental projects.

 

[Steven B]

You should check out Daughter Darling.

Daughter Darling - Sweet Shadows - YouTube

The vocalist has some solo stuff that's pretty good too.

 

[kung_fu]

Cool thread. I don't have much to add, as most of the things I would have mentioned HAVE been mentioned. Here are a few tracks you might dig that I don't think have been mentined:

"Picture This" by the Beastie boys (go to 11:46). Not what they are known fr, but this is a very chill Portisheady track off of their amazing Hello Nasty record. I'm sure you're familiar with the beastie boys, but they have loads of chill trip-hoppy Medeski-Martin-Wood esque instrumentals on a ton of their records as well.




"All I need" by Air. These guys are, for the most part, more pop/electronica based but they often use female vocals throughout their discography.

 

[kung_fu]

Heard this on the radio a few weeks ago. You might enjoy it

 

[Kroaton]

The first Sneaker Pimps album (featuring Kelli Ali) was at the time considered to be one of the best trip hop albums ever written.

Their later albums have Chris Corner (IAMX) doing vocals.

 

[the_heretic_divine]

^^ This.

 

[Somnium]

I have been meaning to check out that Sneaker Pimps album. I listened to a few tracks a while back and they didn't do much for me but perhaps it's time I revisit it. Tricky's Maxinquaye is kind of starting to grow on me, thinking about picking up Nearly God this week.

 

[Hollowway]

Yeah, I was going to say Sneaker Pimps, but somebody beat me to it. Check it out though. Really good stuff.

 

[Basti]

I love trip-hop as Mezzanine has been with me ever since I can remember. There's really very little I can add to your list, Portishead is indeed something from another planet. Awesome doesn't quite cover the sheer depth and beauty of some of the better trip hop songs (and in some cases albums), I'll probably always get chills when I hear songs like Teardrop and Glory Box.
I bought Maxinquaye and was quite disappointed with it too on the whole. If you don't know it I think Hollow is Tricky's best song...you probably do but it's worth a shot.
Tricky - Hollow - YouTube

I've also found myself enjoying Radiohead for the same reasons that I like trip-hop, as is the case of OK computer (songs like No Surprises, the Tourist...)

 

[Selvmord]

 

[Hollowway]

Not really trip hop, and not really in line with what this thread is about (sorry to derail) but if you're looking for something with an original groove and female vocals you could also check out Bjork when she was in the Sugar Cubes. I love some of their stuff. And some Siouxsie and the Banshees stuff is pretty cool, too. I have that stuff, along with Maxinque and some Sneaker Pimps stuff on my iphone a lot.

 

[pullingstraws]

You should probably check this out then...



The first song is an instrumental, but there's vocals on the other songs.

 

[Murdstone]

If you want good trip-hop (not necessarily female-fronted...), check out:
Flying Lotus, Teebs, Bonobo, Devonwho, Mndsgn, Bahwee, Juj, Knxwledge.
Especially the first two and last.

 

[Selvmord]

everyone needs a lil MORCHEEBA in their life