Coming up next week is the Coachella music festival, which takes place out in Cali between April 25 - 27. AJK has been trying to convince me that we should head down to this, still currently mulling over whether or not I can take the time off work to go down to this. Recently added to the lineup is PRINCE!!! Man there’s no doubt in my mind this is going to be a great festival, so should you be lucky enough to be out in the California area, most definitely you need to check this out. Other acts include, but not limited to: Fatboy Slim, Diplo, Santogold, Cut Copy, Portishead, M.I.A., Mark Ronson, Little Brother, Uffie, Justice, Chromeo, Simian Mobile Disco and Kid Sister with A-Trak to name a few. Visit www.coachella.com for more info.

As I anxiously sit here and wait for the new Portishead album-Third to drop, I’ll have to rely on this video of Machine Gun to get a taste of the new album. Third drops end of April (28th).

Also if you’re a Portishead fiend like me (yes I ordered it!) you can Pre Order - ‘THIRD’ LTD EDITION BOX SET (Double vinyl/1GB USB/single vinyl/ltd edition print) £40.00 is pretty pricey, but what can I say? Its Portishead. Check out what you get in the package here.

I’ve been waiting for the news of a Portishead release for years. Finally! Dr. Dre, this reminds me, when are you going to finally release Detox? This is even more exciting for me than waiting for Radiohead’s In Rainbows box set back in December!

The announcement on www.portishead.co.uk states the new album will be dropping on April 14th 2008. The album is titled THIRD. Yeah, not the most creative album title, but its Portishead. The album contains 11 tracks and is 49 minutes 13 seconds long.

Portishead made such a big musical impact on me back in 1994. If Hip-Hop is the reason why I’m obsessed with my MPC, then Portishead is the reason why I got into sampling & electronic music in such a big way. Beth Gibbons, Adrian Utley & Geoff Barrow are truly genius in my book.

For those of you needing to catch up on this iconic group check out the Live: Roseland New York (CD & DVD), Portishead(2nd album), and the legendary Dummy. Sorry Tricky but their use of the Isaac Hayes loop on Glory Box still takes the cake of one of the best use of that sample!

Until the release, you’ll find me watching the Live: RoseLand New York DVD for the 20th time and counting! I still remember the look of disgust of the lady on my flight back from New York. I was watching their award winning short film-To Kill A Dead Man. Serves her right for looking at my screen, and continually getting up to go to the bathroom.