![]() This gave them a broader palette to wield in the studio, allowing them to keep their sound fresh. Being a collective of male musicians, Massive Attack took a different approach, using their status to attract extremely gifted vocalists and songwriters to collaborate with. Their friendly rivals Portishead were lucky enough to come with a built-in singer, Beth Gibbons. Massive Attack have stood at the helm of British electronic rock music for 30 years, creating an impressive back catalogue. The atmospheric and profound feel to the instrumentals perfectly frames Sandoval’s voice in a hit reminiscent of ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ with its prosperous use of orchestral string arrangements. The album was, however, limited by its lack of variety, which was perhaps compensated for in 2010 with Heligoland.įor this fifth studio album, Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Guy Garvey ( Elbow) were among the titans brought in to add variation and vigour to Massive Attack’s fifth studio album alongside seasoned trip-hop singer Martina Topley-Bird but the most memorable of the Heligoland collaborations was ‘Paradise Circus ’. For this single, the band wielded the plaintive and demure, yet powerful voice of Hope Sandoval, vocalist of the Californian dream-pop band Mazzy Star. She sang and co-wrote three songs on the album, including the lead single, ‘Special Cases’, which broke into the UK top 20. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have moments that shine many of these moments owe thanks to Irish singer Sinead O’Connor. In my opinion, Massive Attack have no “bad” albums, but 100th Window is, for me, the least memorable. Andrew Vowles left the trio due to ongoing creative disputes – his outnumbered vote in favour of Madonna for ‘Teardrop’ being but one of the nails in the coffin. Mezzanine marked the last album by the original line-up of the band. We will never know what Madonna’s version might have sounded like, but Fraser was perfect for this track her unique – almost yodelling – vocals roll beautifully with the punchy harpsichord led instrumentals. The song was originally written with the intention of Madonna performing the vocals after the group previously collaborated with her on a cover of Marvin Gaye’s I Want You. However, Madonna was ultimately voted against in favour of Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser. ‘Teardrop’ was the most successful single on the album and the group’s only UK top 10 hit to date. Fortunately for us greedy listeners, the album was not only a corker, but a hit-laden masterpiece. The album was the result of a few meticulous and tempestuous years in the studio that tore the band apart at the seams. It wasn’t until 1998 that Massive Attack released their long-awaited third album, Mezzanine. In 1995, she played her final part for Massive Attack, singing ‘The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game’ for the soundtrack to Batman Forever. Thorn also co-wrote and sang ‘Better Things’, released on the same album. Thorn’s brooding vocals met with a guitarist’s foot heavy on a wah-wah pedal and carefully placed samples from James Brown’s ‘The Playback’ and Bill Cosby’s ‘Get Out of My Life Woman’, gave a recipe for the band’s second top 20 hit to date. The single was a triumphant stitch in the tapestry of the genre with a sound not too dissimilar from that of budding Bristol trip-hoppers, Portishead. Thorn not only offered her voice but also wrote the lyrics to the single ‘Protection’, the namesake of the 1994 album. Shara Nelson’s departure from the band after Blue Lines ushered in the age of Tracey Thorn, the dynamic singer-songwriter of Everything But the Girl. Topped off with a starring role in the music video for the track, singing whilst walking the streets of Los Angeles, Nelson played a profound role in the group’s rise to fame and recognition. Nelson’s soulful vocals accompany the music perfectly to give an eerie chill down the spine – something dance music doesn’t often achieve. #MASSIVE ATTACK FULL#It is a beautiful and atmospheric electronic dance track layered with intriguing textures and instrumentals thanks to a full orchestral arrangement recorded in Abbey Road studios financed by the reluctant sale of the band’s car. Most memorable of all the singles was ‘Unfinished Sympathy’, arguably one of Massive Attack’s finest songs to date. Nelson sang on three of the album’s four singles: ‘Safe From Harm’, ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ and ‘Daydreaming’. For a change in vocal style from the rapping on some of the songs, the band brought in singer Shara Nelson. Blue Lines is a menagerie of low tempo hip hop tracks blended with a bounty of genres, including reggae, soul and electro. ![]()
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