“[Portishead] wrote evocative pseudo-cabaret pop songs that subverted their conventional structures with experimental productions and rhythms of trip-hop. As a result, Portishead appealed to a broad audience — not just electronic dance and alternative rock fans, but thirtysomethings who found techno, trip-hop, and dance as exotic as world beat.”
Even though I'm just "discovering" them and almost out of my 40s, the quote above pretty much sums up my feelings. Very nice... one can either sit back and trip to their sound or listen intently to the poetic, hauntingly sung lyrics. Either way, it's enjoyable.