I've just put my heart and soul in a song and need at least a week to recover.

I've had a wordless phase, and that's still not entirely over: what I sing is not always literally meant that way, and you can hear that in the way it is sung.

The music comes first. When Geoff has made something the inspiration comes automatically. His music is very expressive. But still is is a very difficult process: I have to add something to his music, not push it away. It has to be equal, and I find that very difficult.

Let's get one thing straight: there's no such thing as the Bristol sound.

I thought I had a clear picture of death, but now I know it's a mystery and it will always be a mystery, although it is something we all have in common: everybody knows that life ends with death.

My voice adapts itself to the music. I can do a lot more than you hear in Portishead.

The blackness of darkness, forever.