Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A delicate, faux-1920s doo-wop inspired ukulele sketch featuring Beth Gibbons' soft vocals and ghostly backing harmonies about feeling adrift and alone.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: calm, melancholy, nostalgic
Traditions: trip-hop
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 3/10 places this song in the "steady volume" band. Loudness stays within a narrow window from start to finish — you won't be ambushed by a louder section if you set the volume at the opening.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Portishead's catalog
We have 32 songs from Portishead in the library. Of those, 4 are rated Safe, 20 Moderate, and 8 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 3/10 sits below the artist average of 5.8, making it the #32 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from Third
We have 11 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.
- Silence — intense DR 7
- Hunter — moderate DR 6
- Nylon Smile — moderate DR 6
- The Rip — safe DR 5
- Plastic — intense DR 8
- We Carry On — moderate DR 6
- Machine Gun — intense DR 7
- Magic Doors — moderate DR 6
- Threads — intense DR 8
- Pedestal — moderate DR 7
2008 context
Released in 2008. We have 259 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 2000s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Deep Water"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Deep Water" by Portishead?
"Deep Water" by Portishead rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 3/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "Deep Water" — what is its dynamic range?
"Deep Water" has a dynamic range of 3/10. This places it in the steady-volume band — loudness stays within a narrow window start to finish.
Does "Deep Water" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Deep Water" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Deep Water" best for?
In our library "Deep Water" is recommended for: anxiety relief, relaxation, sleep. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Deep Water" released?
"Deep Water" is from 2008, on the album "Third". It appears in our 2000s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Deep Water"?
We tag "Deep Water" as calm, melancholy, nostalgic. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Deep Water"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Deep Water"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Deep Water" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
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