Mezzanine

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

For Mezzanine, Robert Del Naja wanted a darker sound in 1997. He made instrumental demos with samples of British post-punk bands such as Wire and Gang of Four, far removed from the jazzy soul of the previous records Blue Lines and Protection. The sessions were tense and almost broke the group apart. The release was pushed back four months to April 1998. Andrew Vowles left shortly afterwards. For the first time Del Naja worked with producer Neil Davidge, and Tricky no longer took part.

The result is a trip hop and electronica record full of claustrophobic atmosphere, heavy bass and abstract sounds. Horace Andy sings on several tracks, and Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins also sings. Inertia Creeps builds on a rhythm from Turkish music that Del Naja recorded after a night out in Istanbul. Critics were full of praise for the dark sound. Several magazines place the record among the best albums of the 1990s.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Angel6:20Apple Music ↗
2. 2Risingson4:59Apple Music ↗
3. 3Teardrop5:31Apple Music ↗
4. 4Inertia Creeps5:57Apple Music ↗
5. 5Exchange4:11Apple Music ↗
6. 6Dissolved Girl6:07Apple Music ↗
7. 7Man Next Door5:56Apple Music ↗
8. 8Black Milk6:22Apple Music ↗
9. 9Mezzanine5:57Apple Music ↗
10. 10Group Four8:12Apple Music ↗
11. 11(Exchange)4:11Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

See also

• Massive Attack