Even though jazz is not generally considered to be a radio friendly genre, it’s impossible not to mention the band which is said to be the successors of The Cinematic Orchestra.

Portico Quartet is a fresh, yet already acclaimed jazz quartet from London. Their post-jazz (with a pinch of minimalism) debut “Knee-Deep In The North Sea” was nominated for the Mercury Prize, which gave the band some recognition among an audience wider than just avid jazz supporters. Thanks to the success of the first album, the band were able to sign with Peter Gabriel’s Real World label and record “Isla” in the legendary Abbey Road studio. The effects are more than satisfactory.

The band’s distinctive feature is the use of hang – a special percussion instrument that sounds a bit like a mixture of a drum and a xylophone. The sound of Portico Quartet is complemented by drums, double bass and a saxophone. It’s the last instrument on that list that plays the leading role in “Paper Scissors Stone” – a surprisingly ethereal and a bit oriental composition that we thoroughly recommend this week.