Massive Attack - Mezzanine

donkeydoo · 10-14-2021, 06:04 PM

Massive Attack - Mezzanine (1998)

Sometimes when I hear an album, I say to myself, well, ****, I guess I have to follow everything this artist has ever done and ever will do. From the moment I first heard Mezzanine, this was one of those.

There was a lot of internal band tension during its making apparently. You can hear why, it’s such a clear shift away from the urban souly vibe of the previous albums towards a dark, atmospheric sound. If you put all of trip-hop bar this album on one side, and Mezzanine on the other, saving only one side wouldn’t be the easy choice it should be.

While it has the sonic connective thread of dark basslines across every song, each song changes genre, intensity, tempo and tone of vocals. It really benefits from having three main very different sounding vocals, from Horace Andy’s soulful but haunting cries on Angel, Man Next Door and (Exchange) to Elisabeth Frazer’s weird way of singing where you don’t know where one word ends and the next begins on Black Milk, Group Four and Teardrop to finally Massive Attack’s own style of whisper rapping lyrics. If those 3 vocalists weren’t enough, Sarah Jay also contributes another style of sensual vocals to Dissolved Girl.

Not too much else to say on this, just a perfect album where every song is the best version of what it’s trying to be. Atmospheric, dark, intense, sensual and always interesting. If someone had to pick 100 albums from history that showcases the range of humanity's auditory creativity, this objectively would have to be chosen.

Fav Tracks: Inertia Creeps, Dissolved Girl, Teardrop, Angel

TheBig3 · 10-14-2021, 11:02 PM

You know I never checked this out. I remember it being an album you were supposed to like, but a lot of the late 90s stuff coming from England just didn't jive with me. I might give it a swing. This weekend.

donkeydoo · 10-15-2021, 05:26 PM

>Atmospheric, dark, intense, sensual

If those words appeal, you're in for a treat!

SGR · 10-16-2021, 10:08 AM

Nice review man! Mezzanine is a great album. I think if I was objective about it, I'd pick this album as their best. But, that said, my heart prefers their previous effort - it's definitely easier to chill out to than Mezzanine.

By the way, have you heard either of the Mad Professor Dub remixes of Mezzanine or Protection? They're definitely worth hearing.

LEGALISE DRUGS AND MURDER · 10-16-2021, 03:08 PM

Great album.

donkeydoo · 10-18-2021, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundgardenRocks

By the way, have you heard either of the Mad Professor Dub remixes of Mezzanine or Protection? They're definitely worth hearing.

Thanks man! And yeh, trip-hop in general seems to lend itself to having good different takes on the same songs.

jadis · 10-26-2021, 02:18 PM

Fine album, their best imo

Oleg Vostyakov · 11-02-2021, 01:54 AM

Best album of Bristol pioneers!

SGR · 11-02-2021, 03:52 PM

If Protection didn't have that terrible Doors cover tacked on at the end, I'd call that a better album than Mezzanine

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

You know I never checked this out. I remember it being an album you were supposed to like, but a lot of the late 90s stuff coming from England just didn't jive with me. I might give it a swing. This weekend.

Have you peeped it yet?

10-14-2021, 06:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
donkeydoo Groupie Join Date: May 2020 Location: London Posts: 37	Massive Attack - Mezzanine Massive Attack - Mezzanine (1998) Sometimes when I hear an album, I say to myself, well, **, I guess I have to follow everything this artist has ever done and ever will do. From the moment I first heard Mezzanine, this was one of those. There was a lot of internal band tension during its making apparently. You can hear why, it’s such a clear shift away from the urban souly vibe of the previous albums towards a dark, atmospheric sound. If you put all of trip-hop bar this album on one side, and Mezzanine on the other, saving only one side wouldn’t be the easy choice it should be. While it has the sonic connective thread of dark basslines across every song, each song changes genre, intensity, tempo and tone of vocals. It really benefits from having three main very different sounding vocals, from Horace Andy’s soulful but haunting cries on Angel, Man Next Door and (Exchange) to Elisabeth Frazer’s weird way of singing where you don’t know where one word ends and the next begins on Black Milk, Group Four and Teardrop to finally Massive Attack’s own style of whisper rapping lyrics. If those 3 vocalists weren’t enough, Sarah Jay also contributes another style of sensual vocals to Dissolved Girl. Not too much else to say on this, just a perfect album where every song is the best version of what it’s trying to be. Atmospheric, dark, intense, sensual and always interesting. If someone had to pick 100 albums from history that showcases the range of humanity's auditory creativity, this objectively would have to be chosen. Fav Tracks: Inertia Creeps, Dissolved Girl, Teardrop, Angel** __________________ My Spotify

10-14-2021, 11:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	You know I never checked this out. I remember it being an album you were supposed to like, but a lot of the late 90s stuff coming from England just didn't jive with me. I might give it a swing. This weekend. __________________ I've moved to a new address

10-15-2021, 05:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
donkeydoo Groupie Join Date: May 2020 Location: London Posts: 37	>Atmospheric, dark, intense, sensual If those words appeal, you're in for a treat! __________________ My Spotify

10-16-2021, 10:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,326	Nice review man! Mezzanine is a great album. I think if I was objective about it, I'd pick this album as their best. But, that said, my heart prefers their previous effort - it's definitely easier to chill out to than Mezzanine. By the way, have you heard either of the Mad Professor Dub remixes of Mezzanine or Protection? They're definitely worth hearing.

10-16-2021, 03:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
LEGALISE DRUGS AND MURDER Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 94	Great album.

10-26-2021, 02:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
jadis Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: dont ask Posts: 1,359	Fine album, their best imo

11-02-2021, 01:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
Oleg Vostyakov Groupie Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Switzerland Posts: 40	Best album of Bristol pioneers!