364) Massive Attack - Mezzanine

Massive Attack have been around since 1988 and have released five albums, and we have not had one for sixteen years. The Beautiful South formed the same year and released double the amount and split up twenty years ago. Not the most prolific of bands.

Mezzanine was their third record and was a UK number one and is one of those records that I go back to again and again, so what if they have only made five records when they have one as good as this in their back catalogue.

Seemingly a stressful record to make this was the last time all three original members, Robert Del Naja (3G), Daddy G and Andrew Vowles worked together with Vowles leaving after this record and they have continued as a duo ever since.

This is an edgier, darker record than previous ones, beats, and bass to die for and we even have guitar, however this record is not just these three gentlemen as they were inspired to bring in some magnificent guest vocalists.

Angel is a haunting opener, and we have the return of the silky atmospheric vocals of Horace Andy with scraping guitar, but throughout the noise Andy’s vocals soften the song. Andy also takes the lead on Man Next Door, a cover version all swampy until we have a sample of The Cure 10.15 Saturday Night appearing and the closer Exchange, which is a beautiful, chilled way to end an intense listen.

Risingson is dark and intense as 3G and Daddy G trade off each other before we have their inspired moment of bringing in Elizabeth Fraser. The woman if she had done nothing after Cocteau Twins would still be talked about but as the minimal music of Teardrop builds you cannot help but be blown away as she steps in and delivers a perfect vocal, melting her vocal around the beats, emphasising certain words and  gliding all over the song, it’s a sublime vocal and on the spacious Black Milk she shows she is no one off, but we know this. 

They must have known they were onto a good thing as they bring her back for the duet Group Four 3D all matter of fact before she swamps in with her usual elegance, should it work, maybe not, they could not have more contrasting styles but that is maybe the genius of the song, wait till you hear the guitar five minutes in  Let’s get Massive Attack to produce a solo album for her, I’ll buy a copy if that sways it.

Dissolved Girl has the vocal talents of Sarah Jay Hawley who reminds me of Kelli Dayton of Sneaker Pimps, no terrible thing, and the barrage of noise they launch on us halfway through is a joyful attack on the ears.

Is that it you ask, no because I have not mentioned Inertia Creeps all percussion, bass, and guitars where 3D stamps his personality onto the vocal, showing they can go alone, an intense dark listen.

The reviews I know clearly show I am an indie man but sometimes when you step away from your comfort zone you can be blown away.

9/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Teardrop