With mentions of the likes of Burial, James Blake and Mount Kimbie surrounding the release of this self-titled album, Portico Quartet have much to live up to. Minimalistic, underground dubstep like this can be hard to pass judgement on first time around, and this is no exception. As with the aforementioned Burial, only with deep immersion in the music will true appreciation emerge. In short, this is not a light listen. Many of the tracks take minimalistic music to a new level, sometimes with only a handful of sounds shaped roughly into a musical shell – see 'Trace' in particular. Other tracks are haunting explorations of the alternative electronic scene, taking a step further away from their dubstep roots, perhaps even defining a new genre altogether.

Employing a wide range of live instruments - including saxophone and piano - alongside more traditional synth effects, it is with this blend that the album really comes into its own. The instrumentally diverse tracks such as 'Ruins' are beautiful examples of the merging of live instruments with electronics, and whilst many may be tempted to skip over the slightly stranger aspects of the album, tracks like this reward patience. If you have the time and the mind-set, and are prepared for the fact that it won’t always be an easy ride, Portico Quartet is a fascinatingly diverse piece of work.