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“It’s A Fire” by Portishead is a song characterized by its frequent modulations and use of borrowed chords, making it a considerable complexity in terms of harmony. It features transition from key centers and borrowed chords from other keys, which creates tension and resolution creating the signature moody and intense atmosphere Portishead is known for.

“Sour Times” by Portishead is characterized by dark, brooding sounds and melancholic melodies that gives the song its distinct feel, largely due to the specific chord progression that is used throughout the song. Written in the key of E major, the song makes use of a diverse selection of chords that offers a wider blend of harmonic options to navigate through different moods and tonal landscapes.

The chord progression in Welcome To The Machine by Pink Floyd features a combination of diatonic chords and some extensions to create a lush, ethereal sound. The progression mainly circulates around the key of E minor, with added color tones and an emotional center created by the interplay of chords such as the major 7th and the addition of the 9th degree to certain chords.

“Just The Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. is an easy-listening song, falling under R&B and jazz genres. It’s a classic example of the use of major 7th, dominant 7th, and minor 7th chords to create a rich, smooth harmonic texture. The chord progression is quite repetitive and follows a mixture of diatonic and chromatic movement.

The chord progression of “Because” by The Beatles demonstrates the band’s profound exploration of harmony. The song starts in the key of C# minor, revolves around this key, and includes various modulations and tonicizations to explore chords beyond the key. It heavily employs secondary dominants and borrowed chords, particularly the diminished 7th chords, which is not uncommon in Beatles’s songs. The chord progression has a dreamy and fluid flow due to these harmonic explorations.

Portishead – Its A Fire – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘Gsus4’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘Gsus4’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Chord Progression: [‘Gsus4’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘Gsus4’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘E’]

Translating chords to Roman Numerals (Assuming G Major as our key):

Gsus4 (Isus4)
G (I)
Bm (iii)
D (V)
F (♭VII / a borrowed chord from G minor)
Gsus4 (Isus4)
G (I)
Em (vi)
G (I)
Em (vi)
G (I)
F (♭VII / a borrowed chord from G minor)
E (vi / a borrowed chord from G minor)

“`
Full Chord name (‘Roman Numeral)
Gsus4 (Isus4)
G (I)
Bm (iii)
D (V)
F (♭VII)
Gsus4 (Isus4)
G (I)
Em (vi)
G (I)
Em (vi)
G (I)
F (♭VII)
E (VII)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

The chromaticism and complex harmonic structures in “It’s A Fire” bear similarities to those found in many works of Radiohead, especially “Paranoid Android,” and in some of the darker pieces of David Bowie such as “Life on Mars.”

Radiohead – Paranoid Android:
[‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’, ‘D’, ‘C’, ‘F#’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘B’]

David Bowie – Life on Mars:
[‘F’, ‘Em’, ‘Dm’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘Bb’, ‘Am’, ‘Bb’, ‘Dm’, ‘Em’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘Em’, ‘F’].

Note: For the purpose of this analysis, assume that these songs are in the keys of E minor and F major, respectively.

Musical Analysis

The use of suspended chords and borrowed chords in this song suggests a sense of emotional ambiguity, shifting between tension and release. Additionally, the resolution from Gsus4 to G creates a tension-release pattern that gives a color characteristic of Portishead’s style.

Overall Analysis

The song “It’s A Fire” by Portishead features complex harmonic structures, distinguished by a fusion of pop, rock, and elements of jazz harmonies. The band, known for their trip-hop style, employ chromatically richer harmony and non-diatonic chord progressions in this piece. The chord progression of ‘It’s A Fire’ is consistent with this approach as we see the frequent use of suspended and minor chords alongside major ones, which creates a sense of unresolved tension. Borrowed chords, usually taken from the parallel minor or major key, are also used frequently to add stylistic color to the harmony.

Style Analysis

Portishead is known for their unique fusion of electronic music, hip hop beats, and jazz elements, a style often referred to as trip hop. Their use of complex chord structures, borrowed chords, and non-diatonic harmonies is consistent with the genre’s mood-setting characteristics, offering an intricate texture and emotional depth that’s distinguishing of their style.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Its A Fire by Portishead are:

[‘Gsus4’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘D’, ‘F’, ‘Gsus4’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘E’]