School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Massive Attack

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Massive Attack is an English group from Bristol, founded in 1988 by Robert Del Naja (3D), Grant Marshall (Daddy G), Adrian Thaws (Tricky) and Andrew Vowles (Mushroom). The four knew one another from The Wild Bunch, one of the first British sound systems, which dominated the clubs of Bristol in the mid-1980s. There they mixed hip hop, soul and reggae together, and that mix became the basis of their own music.

Music and breakthrough

In 1991 the debut album Blue Lines appeared, made with the help of Neneh Cherry and her partner Cameron McVey and partly recorded in their house. The album is regarded as the first trip hop record: slow, dark beats, bass lines from reggae, samples and guest singers such as Horace Andy and Shara Nelson, alternating with the half-spoken raps of the group members themselves. The single Unfinished Sympathy, with strings recorded in the Abbey Road studio, reached number 1 in the Netherlands. Because of the Gulf War the group briefly called itself simply Massive.

Influence

After Protection (1994) Tricky left for a solo career. Mezzanine (1998), with Teardrop, became their first number 1 album in the United Kingdom and sounded heavier and darker. Del Naja and Marshall then continued as a duo. Together with Portishead and Tricky, Massive Attack defined the sound of Bristol in the 1990s and showed that dance music can also be slow, sombre and atmospheric.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Unfinished Sympathy and notice how the strings, the beat and the voice of Shara Nelson together build tension. Hear how the tempo stays calm while the song still grows ever fuller.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsTrip hop