Massive Attack

Massive Attack is a band formed in Bristol, Great Britain in 1988. They are considered to be the founders of trip-hop, and their style also includes elements of jazz, hip-hop, rock, reggae and soul music. The band has constant members, but during the recording they often call other musicians and vocalists. By 2010 Massive Attack’s discography numbers five studio albums, album of remixes, album of best hits and two movie soundtracks.

Story of Massive Attack began in 80’s, when Grant Marshall, Robert Del Naja and Andrew Vowles met. They all were members of unofficial music community named The Wild Bunch, which consisted of djs, producers and musicians of all kinds. In 1988 Massive Attack released their first single Any Love. Later that composition was rerecorded with Tony Bryan and included into the second single Daydreaming in 1990. In 1991 the first Massive Attack studio album Blue Lines was released. It became one of the brightest and memorizable British albums of 90’s. Blue Lines is a combination of such styles as Jamaican reggae, American hip-hop and even jazz. Tricky, Shara Nelson and Horace Andy also took part in creation of that record, and Shara Nelson performed Unfinished Sympathy, which became a world-known hit.

In 1994 the second studio work Protection appeared, where Massive Attack used less samples and more instrument sound. Also the tempo that was used in Blue Lines was made even slower. Vocal parties were performed by Tracey Thorn and Nicolette. Craig Armstrong took part in Protection creation: he played fortepiano parties for Heat Miser and Weather Storm and performed orchestral part in Sly. Massive Attack, Tricky and Portishead created new and fresh sound that was called trip-hop by the critics. In 1995 album of remixes No Protection, which were done by the famous musician Mad Professor was released. In 1996 members of Massive Attack established their own Label named Melankolic, where such musicians as Horace Andy and Craig Armstrong recorded their music.

In 1998 the most successful album of Massive Attack titled Mezzanine was released. Every band’s album had new sound, and Mezzanine was not an exception. Soft and delicate Protection was left behind; Mezzanine had rich and aggressive sound, keyboard parts were substituted by guitar ones. Elizabeth Fraser was invited to work with the band, and she performed famous Teardrop. Another song from Mezzanine, named Angel was used in numerous TV series and movies (including Guy Ritchie’s Snatch). Sepultura was one of the bands that made cover versions of Angel.

In that period Massive Attack was split: after completing the record, Andrew Vowles quitted the band. Other members were busy with their solo projects: Robert Del Naja was occupied with photography and visual arts; Grant Marshall came back to his dj activity. Anyhow, in 2003 fourth studio album 100th Window was released. It had unusual to Massive Attack sound: samples were not used at all, and all the parts were recorded with the ordinary instruments and composers. Nevertheless, slower tempo and new conception of sound did not scare the fans.

In 2004 Massive Attack created soundtrack to Luc Besson’s Danny the Dog, and in 2005 to Bullet Boy movie. In 2006 the record Collected, which consists of all music videos, rare records, unpublished material and two new songs Live With Me and False Flags was released. The fifth studio album Heligoland appeared in 2010.