Massive Attack

Massive Attack is a British group originating in Bristol and precursor of the music Trip hop. It is composed in the beginning of Robert Del Naja ( 3D ), Grant Marshall ( Daddy G ) and Andrew Vowles ( Mushroom ). The style of the group, always in advance over its time, will evolve/move: initially near to the Hip-hop, to the Drunk Groove even of the , it will approach the electronic at the end of the Années 1990. In dissension with the evolution of the musical style, Mushroom left the group at the exit of the album Mezzanine , in 1998.

Biography

Bristol-board, end of the Years 1980. Cameron McVey, husband and manager of the singer Neneh Cherry, and today member of the group CirKus, meets three young DJ and producers resulting from a local sound-system: The Wild Bunch . Having a presentiment of a possible success discographic, he proposes to them to go in studio to compose a disc. 3D remembers: Cameron McVey felt a potential in us and he proposed to us to work that. We really did not want it, we were not at the good place for that and it was really only one test, but that functioned. This test was baptized Blue Lines and it posed neither more nor less than the bases of large the sound Melting pot of the Années 1990 and the Trip hop in particular.

But hardly consumed success that contradictions catch up with them. After the success of Blue Lines , the group decides to take its independence with respect to Cameron McVey, but without really knowing in which direction outward journey. The departure of the singer Shara Nelson does not arrange the things. We were then obliged all to rebuild again, it was like a test in perpetual evolution. That really was very stressing because we were not a coherent unit people who work in the same direction or who have a common vision. We were not a group.

Supported by their friend and producing Nellee Hooper, consolidated by singers of talent, the three musicians are locked up in studio, again redefining contours of their music. In 1994, the album Protection is born. Less revolutionary but of a melody and sound genius remarkable, it marks a new stage for the group. Whereas many of other artists would have settled in this comfortable style and terribly in phase with their time, the questioning and the conflict become almost the watchword within the group.

In 1997, the group takes part in the original soundtrack of the film the Jackal by recording " Superpredators (Postcard Metal) " , a piece containing a sample Siouxsie And The Banshees.

In 1998, Mezzanine , their third album appears. Fruit of ceaseless tensions within the trio, it surprises by its post-punk blackness and its relents. A new masterpiece but whose gestation once again was painful, no piece not having been really composed with three. Certain dissensions become even very difficult to manage. I think that Mezzanine was made with the desire for creating a live music more , with more guitar and of battery, explains 3D. I wished to very move away me from the elements soulful which made our sound, because I felt that all musics that I listened to unquestionable a heat and safety brought me. I wanted to do something of colder because it is as that which I felt. In the final analysis it is what caused the clash between Mushroom and me, because we were in total dissension on this point. Despite everything the group escapes from accuracy from separation.

After a crowned round of success, the trio thinks of its fourth album. Wearied to be able to express its musical sensitivity, nearer to the negro musics, Mushroom the group in 1999 leaves, leaving Daddy G and 3D alone to the orders. The two accomplices decide to take again the concept implemented during the recording of Mezzanine : We tested, finally it were probably entirely of my fault, tell 3D, we tried to take a great number of inner loops and ideas which were mainly based on a retro-psychédélique jam between the musicians of Lupine Hell (ex-Spiritualized). As from approximately twenty hours of recordings, we tried to extract some from the small pieces and to dissect them to make beautiful music of it, but that was a complete disaster. We lost the gasoline even these sounds, their direction.

Building in vain up to eighty pieces, the two musicians end up feeling that they do not go in the right direction. We were losing any interest in what we did, explains 3D, we had both desire for living different things, apart from the group. Daddy G moves away then frankly from Massive Attack, preferring to devote itself entirely to its family life and personal. For 3D, it is almost a relief: Honestly, Grant had much better things to make, to begin a new life was really marvellous for him.

3D is found then only in studio, just shouldered by the producer Neil Davidge, who had already work on Mezzanine . Dissatisfied with the new pieces, they decide all to start again to zero. 3D: We put ourselves at work with Neil, without reflecting too much… we started to program limp at rate/rhythm, to play of the keyboard, using all small extracts of the jams, to write new songs. It is as that which the album was born, very quickly, between January and April 2002. For this disc, 3D also decided to give up the samples completely coming from other discs. Wearied by the legal problems, he also affirms to want to try to separate completely from a culture DJ whose techniques were plundered with excess. Certain fans find The 100th Window less good than the preceding albums and others recognize in him a logical and successful succession.

In 2006, to them best-of Collected leaves, and the group announces the exit of a new album for April 2007 which will be finally pushed back for 2008.

Collaborations

Many artists revolved around Massive Attack, in particular:

Massive Attack involved in its wake a certain number of groups like Portishead and created the label Melankolik to promote new British artists (Craig Armstrong, Alpha…).

Massive Attack is regarded as one of the precursors of a new style of music containing Sample S, the Trip-hop.

The leader “3D” is known for his political commitments altermondialists, his pacifist positions on the Iraqi conflict and his engagement for the development of the world ecological spirit. He defrayed the chronicle in 2002 by false charges of Pédophilie and detention of Drogue. He makes in addition ravel bands advertisements during his concerts to sensitize the public.

Discography

See also: List of the pieces of Massive Attack

DVD

  • Eleven Promotions (Delabel/Virgin, 2001)

Clips

Blue Lines (Available on the DVD " Eleven Promos")
  • Daydreaming, carried out by Baillie Walsh in 1990.
  • Unfinished Sympathy, carried out by Baillie Walsh in 1991.
  • Safe From Harm, carried out by Baillie Walsh in 1991.
  • Be Thankful For What You' ve Got, carried out by Baillie Walsh in 1992.

Protection (Available on the DVD " Eleven Promos")

Mezzanine (Available on the DVD " Eleven Promos")

  • Risingson, carried out by Walter Stern in 1997.
  • Teardrop, carried out by Walter Stern in 1998.
  • Angel, carried out by Walter Stern in 1998.
  • Inertia Creeps, carried out by Wiz in 1997.

100th Special Window

  • Boxes
  • Butterfly Caught

Collected

  • Live with me (feat. Terry Holder) in 2006
  • False flags in 2006

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