[1] All of the group's album covers, artwork and graphic design is done by the drummer, Bellamy, who has a degree in fine art from Central Saint Martins.

[2] The band was formed from two groups of childhood friends (Jack Wyllie and Milo Fitzpatrick from Southampton, and Duncan Bellamy and Nick Mulvey from Cambridge) who met in 2005 while studying at university in London.

[7][8] They subsequently signed to Peter Gabriel's Real World Records and released two albums: 2009's Isla and 2012's self-titled Portico Quartet.

In 2017 the band signed with Gondwana Records and released their fourth studio album as Portico Quartet—Art in the Age of Automation—which reached no.

[8] In 2021, a remixed version of the band's song "Double Helix" appeared on the podcast Storybound alongside author Chuck Klosterman.

[13] The Living Fields album featured another change in style, focused on experimental electronic pop music rather than instrumental compositions.