Blue Lines - Massive Attack > Reviews (9)

Massive Attack are one of the most influential acts to emerge from the UK. This is mostly due to their ability to fuse many different elements of music from the various 'members' and come up with an original yet familiar sound. This was their debut album which takes on a more trip-hop/downbeat style than some of their later work. The sounds here are more organic than anything heard in later releases. For me this album really gives a feel of raw electronicly produced music, rather than the seemless crystal clear sound that most electronic music has nowadays. Not to say that the sound quality is poor - Massive Attack are true masters at sonic cohesion, blending synths, samples and vocals seemlessly.
The vocal talent of Shara Nelson is truely displayed here as she wails soulfully in a masterful way. Horace Andy is also featured with his fantastically distinct tone and vibrato. Both these artists are ideal for this music. The instrumentation is generally not overly prone to carrying an extended melody form. But both these artists are expert at creating a song out of nothing. You feel as if you could listen to them riffing all day on just a drum loop. There is also rapping from Tricky, 3-D and Daddy -G and Mushroom, however this is a style of rap that is not widely known. It is much more lyrical and gently paced in general - not for all ears, but it fits the music perfectly

1) Safe From Harm

This is a dark brooding slow tempo song with a great rolling bassline. Even though it is slow and the drums are relaxed and sparse, the instrumentation and vocals create a floating feel of quiet chaos. Shara Nelson's vocals are a great match to the music - she creates melody in music that is fairly void of any. 3-D provides additional vocals, and it is the lyrics, as with so many of Massive Attacks songs, that really complete the track in feel and sentiment.

2) One Love

Another slow one. Horace Andy shines here along with some some fabulously 'cheeky' understated production. Maybe a slightly odd choice as a second track on an album as there is so little to this tune- but its a real statement of the groups ability within their delicate production.

3) Blue Lines

This track always reminds me of relaxing summers. So much of their music brings up suprises on every listen. This for me has so many little production intricacies that make it great. This is a rapping track with well cushioned delivery - the whole track is like a massage for your ears.

4) Be Thankful For What You've Got

So hard to describe the style of this group. The instrumentation here is like what The Wailer's would have sounded like if they had become a function band at a beachside resort in Hawaii... and added a DJ. Horace Andy delivers the goods and we can all chill and feel the sea lapping at our feet.

5) Five Man Army

In many ways this is simply a hip-hop track. It has all the elements and yet carries an entirely unique take on the genre. The vocals are rap with Horace Andy singing additional parts. It has a great bassline, well produced drums with a nice rimshot.

This is one of my favourites - so simple yet so much in it.

6) Unfinished Synphony

A much more uptemo track. A real epic and triumphant feel but the singing both in style and lyrics much more sad. Shara Nelson give her best performance on the album. This is a song that builds fantastically and never really goes anywhere but its ok because it has such a great movement feel to it - it ends up being the rise and falls of a journey rather than reaching anywhere.

7) Daydreaming

I used to always skip this track. Being an avid hip-hop fan the rapping really put me off. It is a real display of the rappers style. The style is very different. I like this track a little more now. It is still, for me the weakest track, not just for the rapping, but the production seems, to me , a little mis-matched. But that is being harsh - it is a well formulated downbeat original hip-hop style track - I just had to say something bad!

8) Lately

Great bass sample. Incredible vocals - I think I take back what I said before - maybe this is shara Nelson's best track. The lyrics are exceptional, as always, and again the simplicity of the track is what sticks out. This is a beat that most rappers would die to be let loose on, but its turned into an amazingly chilled twisted AL Green track. Great stuff.

9) Hymn Of The Big Wheel

This is a great track to end the album with - although consistant with the band's style, it feels somehow separate - lyrically it is almost an "answer" to all the problems posed by the previous tracks. Horace Andy seems at home on this track. It is uplifting and medative. Always makes me smile.

I would highly recommend this album to anyone. Massive attack went on to acheive great success - bu this shows something so rare today - unspoiled artistry in music. This is one of the best British albums to be released and continues to inspire musicians. Lyrically there are many political statements to be found, but this is not a vital thing to get. The songs themselves are what makes this album - the vocal talents are on top form - the production is a real "lesson" to electronic producers on how to make a cohesive album without sacrificing on techniques. Go Buy It!