16 artists like Portishead
Matched on how their catalogues actually move — measured intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood across 32 Portishead songs (averaging 44/100 intensity). Each one comes with the single song to start with.
Shares the same melancholy register and averages almost the same intensity (48/100). 89 of their songs measured.
Averages almost the same intensity (39/100), with the same melancholy register running through 50 measured songs.
39 measured songs that keep the same calm register — runs hotter overall (55/100).
Shares the same calm register and averages almost the same intensity (49/100). 78 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (28/100), with the same melancholy register running through 66 measured songs.
64 measured songs that keep the same melancholy register — averages almost the same intensity (49/100).
Shares the same melancholy register and averages almost the same intensity (49/100). 32 of their songs measured.
Averages almost the same intensity (44/100), with the same intimate register running through 49 measured songs.
65 measured songs that keep the same intimate register — averages almost the same intensity (45/100).
Shares the same intimate register and averages almost the same intensity (49/100). 48 of their songs measured.
Plays calmer overall (34/100), with the same reflective register running through 44 measured songs.
42 measured songs that keep the same spacious register — runs hotter overall (50/100).
Shares the same heavy register and runs hotter overall (56/100). 84 of their songs measured.
Runs hotter overall (58/100), with the same heavy register running through 22 measured songs.
82 measured songs that keep the same melancholy register — runs hotter overall (52/100).
Frequently asked
What artists sound like Portishead?
The closest matches we measure are Björk, Massive Attack, Aphex Twin. Artists are matched by how their catalogs actually move — average intensity, dynamic range, texture and shared mood — across 32 measured Portishead songs, not by genre label or chart adjacency.
Which song should I start with?
Björk: “Allow” (90% feel-match); Massive Attack: “Dissolved Girl” (90% feel-match); Aphex Twin: “produk 29 ” (93% feel-match). Each is that artist's single closest track to the Portishead centre of gravity, so it's the least jarring way in.
How intense is Portishead overall?
Across 32 measured songs, Portishead averages 44/100 on our intensity scale. Individual songs vary — see the full catalog breakdown on their artist page.
How do you decide two artists are similar?
Every song is measured on 8 dimensions (intensity, dynamic range, tempo, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal force, fine sound detail). We compare an artist's catalogue centre of gravity to every other artist's, then weight shared mood tags. Matches cross genre and era, because the measurements don't know what genre is.
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