I'm a musician. I study at the Royal Academy of Music doing the Media and Applied Music Course. You ...
I'm a musician. I study at the Royal Academy of Music doing the Media and Applied Music Course. You can see some of my music at http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/c gi-bin/user_page.pl?url=garet hcoker
Member since:05.11.2003
Reviews:18
Members who trust:1
Where are the tunes guys? What happened to the catchy riffs that made your songs instantly recognisable?
There are more questions than answers on this album - the most pressing being - 'What has happened to Massive Attack'
Massive Attack's albums are great listening experiences (before this one) - in particular Mezzanine. And their singles (before the singles from this album) were very memorable - most noticeably Teardrop - from Mezzanine.
On this album - there is nothing memorable, because it all sounds so 'samey'.
Massive Attack are great at creating soundscapes - and that is something they have achieved very well on this album as well. The problem with this album - is that there is not a lot on top of those soundscapes - it's all very well doing sound design - but you have to have something that interest the ears - otherwise this music might as well be lounge music.
The first single from this album that was released ' Special Cases' is a fine example of this. Great sound design - but a tune that is totally unrecognisable and umemorable. In this song - it sounds like they've tried to cross 'Angel' and 'Teardrop' from Mezzanine - and it hasn't worked.
The song that stands out for me is 'Everywhen'. I'm not saying that it's good - but it stands out from the rest of the album - because it does at least have some motifs and a more clear cut mix that emphasises these motifs. Problem with this track - it's too long.
Thank God for Sinead O' Connor - as her voice does at least lift some of the gloom from this album - shame that you can't hear her voice that well amidst all of the wash in the background.
If I had to liken this album to one musical sound - it would be a drone. It's unvaried, the mixes are poor and unclear and even distorted in places on Future Proof - the first track. Lastly - it's utterly unmemorable.
I don't know where Massive Attack go from here - but the sound design on this album doesn't hide the simple truth in that they appear to have run out of melodies.
If I wanted an album that sounded like this - I would go for the infinitely better Talkie Walkie - by Air.
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Good review. I could never get into this album I enjoy all Massive Attack's other works, but this one was rather uninspired. Lucidly written and suprisingly objective, well done. D
MAFARRIMOND 01.12.2004 08:47
Enough to tell me I probably wouldn't like this. Maureen
During the 1990s, Massive Attack were simply untouchable as the most groundbreaking ... more
British band for decades. Each of their three studio albums preceding 100th Window were pioneering masterpieces, with 1991's Blue Lines acclaimed as one of the best Bri...
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During the 1990s, Massive Attack were simply untouchable as the most groundbreaking ... more
British band for decades. Each of their three studio albums preceding100th Windowwere pioneering masterpieces, with 1991'sBlue Linesacclaimed as one of the best British...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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