Buy now at the Real World store: cd / vinyl

Knee-Deep In The North Sea

Released 31 January 2011

News From Verona
Zavodovski Island
Knee-Deep In The North Sea
Too Many Cooks
Steps In The Wrong Direction
Monsoon: Top to Bottom
The Kon Tiki Expedition
Cittàgazze
Pompidou
Prickly Pear
All the Pieces Matter (BBC Media Vale Session)
Knee-Deep In The North Sea (live in Copenhagen)
Steps In The Wrong Direction (live in Copenhagen)

Buy now at the Real World store: cd / vinyl

Liner notes

In 2007 Portico Quartet moved from busking on the South Bank in London to a recording studio and, with the remains of the money from their student grants, created their first album, Knee Deep In The North Sea (released on Babel/Vortex). This was a turning point for the band, the album attracted attention from DJs, bloggers and critics of every stripe, and was nominated for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize.

Now, re-released on Real World Records, Knee Deep In The North Sea has been remixed by John Leckie (The Stone Roses, Radiohead, Muse and producer of Isla) and features three new tracks.

A short film about the making of the album

Reviews

It's always a delight to discover an album that captivates despite belonging to an unfamiliar genre, and anybody who missed this jazz-fusion masterclass last time around would be well advised to pick up the freshly remixed reissue... approaching 'Knee-Deep in the North Sea' with fresh ears is as rewarding now as it was four years ago. Artrocker (UK)
Remodelled version of 2007 Mercury-shortlisted debut... John Leckie...has added depth and detail to lend a more complexly wrought studio texture to the original record's more austere charm. Uncut UK)
John Leckie, who produced their second album, has subtly tweaked the mix, turning down the saxophone in places, pumping up the bass. The tunes are just fine: the stately waltz of Pompidou, the reggae shuffle of Prickly Pear. But it is the 20 minutes of added live tracks that make this a potential repurchase. Best is a version of the title track, recorded in Copenhagen, which builds the drama with a long, trippy opening and free-form sax climax. It shows how the quartet's confidence to let the music breathe on-stage has grown. MOJO (UK)

Listen

Further Listening

Isla

Portico Quartet

Released 18 October 2009

Portico Quartet sound like nobody else in Jazz, World or contemporary music. Each of these nine tracks has a distinct mood and atmosphere, while remaining firmly within their soundworld and revealing fresh nuances and facets on each listen. The album was predominantly recorded live at Abbey Road and produced by John Leckie.
Carry Your Kin

The Breath

Released 07 July 2016

Born out of Manchester's fertile music scene The Breath mix Irish folk influences with mesmerizing guitar riffs, anthemic themes and powerful hooks. In turns hypnotic, lush, powerfully raw and raucously punchy, their songs entrance, uplift and break your heart as The Breath conjure a kaleidoscope of sound that perfectly frames Connolly's raw songs and soul cleansing vocals.

Knee-Deep In The North Sea

Further reading

Hannah Peel & Beibei Wang – new collaboration

The last Dub Colossus recording with Nick Page out on Real World X in Spring 2026

‘I’m really moved by people’s response to it’ – John Metcalfe discusses the album Tree

Swaken Lyrics