Massive Attack

Bristol. 80s. Grant Marshall (aka Daddy G) created Wild Bunch with Nellee Hooper. Mainly focused on rap music, this collective will quickly enrich itself with various musical backgrounds. And this, thanks to the contributions of various members such as Robert Del Naja (aka 3D ) at the time street artist, Adrian Thaws (aka Tricky ) or Andrew Vowles (aka Mushroom ). Used to sound systems, the collective began to install its fame. In 1987, Nellee Hooper abandoned the Wild Bunch (to devote himself to the production of albums especially Debut by Björk ); Thus was born Massive Attack .
The group consists of 3 pillars: 3D, Daddy G and Mushroom. The first two were authors and composers, the third being DJ. But everyone is touched at everything. The result is a creative osmosis. Very quickly, they surround themselves with members of the Wild Bunch : Tricky , Neneh Cherry , Shara Nelson ,...and various and varied singers such as Horace Andy (a huge Jamaican reggae singer) or Nicolette , Tracey Thorn (singer of the band Everything but the Girl ).
On August 6, 1991, Blue Lines released the first album of Massive Attack. The album was preceded by the release of the single Unfinished Sympathy but under the name Massive . In the midst of the Gulf War, the name Massive Attack was not welcome. Blue Lines is no less than a musical revolution, this album represents the birth of a new musical genre: trip-hop. Which will make Massive Attack pioneers. The album is a clever mix of reggae, dub, funk or soul.
With the success of their first opus, the band released their second work in 1994: Protection . The second album is always difficult, Massive Attack has chosen to strengthen its bases while opening up new paths. Thus, we note the presence of composer Craig Armstrong on this album but also the collaboration of Portishead on the title Karmacoma . Nevertheless, we find the artists already present on Blue Lines (and for the last time the presence of Tricky, who later served solo and was called "the prince of trip-hop").
Subsequently, Massive Attack will collaborate with various artists (signing remixes for Madonna, Les Négresses Vertes, Peter Gabriel, ...) and in 1995, No Protection (with Mad Professor), the remixed version of Protection. This album is rather dispensable and anecdotal and fans languish with a third album. It is necessary to settle for appearances on film music.
On 27 April 1998, the wait ended and Massive Attack gave birth to Mezzanine. The album is conceived in pain, the three protagonists not getting along in the studio. Nevertheless, they deliver there their best album. A dark, pessimistic work, a surprising musicality. Far from soul and the peaceful atmosphere of the first two albums. There are samples of the Cure , Velvet Underground , Isaac Hayes , and the sublime singer Liz Fraser (of the group Cocteau Twins ) puts her voice on several tracks. Criticism is unanimous. The band went on a world tour but in 1999, Mushroom left the band due to musical differences (notably Massive's turn with Mezzanine). He was followed a few months later by Daddy G (who was more occupied by his future fatherhood than by the group).
Only spaced, 3D will then look at production via the Melankolic Records label that Massive created in 1996. Then are produced the albums of Day One, Alpha, Horace Andy, Craig Armstrong,...In 1999, Del Naja collaborated with Prodigy's Liam Howlett and signed the BO of a porn movie, The Uranus Experiments. As usual, Massive Attack can be found on other BOs and the first three albums that were the victims of their success are used everywhere (TV shows, pubs,...). After several years of work, doubts and questioning, 3D nevertheless comes to its end and releases Massive Attack's most personal album. 100th Window released on February 11, 2003. Again, the context is difficult. 3D, known for its political and humanitarian commitment, is a fervent opponent of the war in Iraq (it can be seen in numerous demonstrations alongside Blur's singer Damon Albarn). He is then the victim of a conspiracy and is accused of paedophilia and dark drug stories resurface. He will then be cleared of any suspicion regarding the possession of paedophile images. 100th Window will divide the fans of the first hour and especially those who expected this album as a direct suite of Mezzanine. The album turns out to be a glacial work, very electronica. Far from the dark side of his predecessor. There is the voice of Sinead O'Connor on a few tracks and the presence of the faithful Horace Andy . The album remains a semi-deception.
Daddy G returns to the band, who is going back on the roads to start a two-year world tour. A tour where the group will display its positions through a giant screen denouncing the evils of the war in Iraq. In 2004, Massive Attack signed Danny the Dog's BO. An effective and sincere album. Then in 2005, 3D signed Bullet Boy, a British film.
The year 2006 looks like the band's big comeback, with the release of a best-of (and unedited) and this summer of their fifth album, Weather Underground . Before a new tour...