Accomplished though they are, when Portico play a Kent gig this week it will mark something of a fresh start.

While the band achieved huge success and a Mercury Music Prize nomination for the 2007 album Knee-Deep In The North Sea in their previous incarnation as the four-man Portico Quartet, the slimmed-down trio – now known simply as Portico – consider their new album a debut.

Entitled Living Fields, it marks a change in musical style from the so-called “future jazz” the group was known for, towards an electronic sound which they describe as “somewhere between structured pop songs and a disintegrating ambience”.

Living Fields features floating guest vocals by Brit and Grammy-nominated Alt-J’s Joe Newman among others, and when the trio of Jack Wyllie, Duncan Bellamy and Milo Fitzpatrick play at Ramsgate Music Hall this week it will be “a big deal show”, says the venue’s Julian Bigg.

“It’s going to be one of the first gigs that we’ve done with our new music,” says Jack.

Of Portico Quartet’s previous style, he explains: “It started off being quite acoustic, it was quite jazzy with a double bass and saxophone with it, and over three albums it gradually got more electronic and ended up being this mix.”

Jack adds: “I think some fans are really supportive of the new direction and some don’t really like it, but that’s what you expect when you decide to try something else.

“That’s part of developing as an artist.

“It’s been quite a dramatic shift in sound and most people respect the fact that people change and won’t always have the same musical style.”

Portico Quartet’s 2008 Mercury Music Prize nomination alongside the likes of Robert Plant, Adele and Radiohead certainly opened doors for the band.

'I think some fans are really supportive of the new direction and some don’t really like it'

“It gave us a huge amount of exposure in a very short space of time,” recalls Jack.

“It really helped getting booked for bigger venues and selling more albums, and enabled us to move into Europe too, because it held a lot of weight with promoters,” says Jack.

Fortunately the previous success enabled them to support themselves throughout the recent transition period alongside an advance from their record label, and Portico – minus previous fourth band member Nick Mulvey who has gone on to launch a solo career– are now eager to get back out there gigging.

“We wanted to play a couple of gigs that we could drive to from London to start to build our live show up, and then we’ll be touring more extensively,” says Jack.

“It’s almost like testing the water and being a bit experimental with it – Ramsgate will be a nice starting point.”

PORTICO

2007: Then known as Portico Quartet, the band sign to Babel Label and release the album Knee-Deep in the North Sea

2008: The band receive a Mercury Music Prize nomination but lose out to eventual winners Elbow

2011: Nick Mulvey leaves to pursue a solo career as a singer-songwriter

2012: Their third, eponymously titled album is released

2014: Keir Vine – who had replaced Nick Mulvey – leaves the group. The band change to a three piece and drop the word ‘Quartet’ from their name

2015: The new album Living Fields will be released on Monday, April 6

THE ALT-J CONNECTION

Aware that they were ready to work with vocalists, the obvious candidate was Joe Newman of indie band Alt-J, who lived about four doors down the road from Jack in Southampton when they were growing up.

“I’ve known Joe since I was about seven or eight,” says Jack, 30. “I remember the days when he used to come round to my house and play some of the Alt-J songs in my loft, which then became really famous.”

Joe’s initial contribution to the new Portico album was 101, and he soon delivered further tracks, Brittle and Atacama.

“He’s obviously a really talented songwriter,” adds Jack.

“He just kept coming out with these great melodies, really quickly too. It helps collaborating with people if you’ve got a personal connection.”

Portico are at Ramsgate Music Hall on Monday, March 16, at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £10. Visit www.ramsgatemusichall.com or call 01843 591815.