Twenty years ago, Massive Attack’s golden streak went up in smoke. Up to that point, the Bristol trip-hop innovators had surfed a never-ending tide of acclaim. With their first three albums, they were heralded as mould-breakers and miracle workers.
Then, on 10 February 2003, came their fourth. 100th Window was feverish and uneasy, a sealed puzzle box that made few concessions to casual listeners. Critics balked, fans scratched their heads. In a finger-snap, Massive Attack had surrendered their status as the most bullet-proof band in Britain.
But as the LP’s 20th anniversary approaches, there is surely a case to be made for 100th Window as a misunderstood masterpiece. True, it’s harder work than any of the Nineties trilogy of Blue Lines (1991), Protection (1994) and Mezzanine (1998). Choruses are at a premium; the smooth grooves that were once a Massive Attack signature are replaced by barb-wire guitars and beats that rumble like...
Then, on 10 February 2003, came their fourth. 100th Window was feverish and uneasy, a sealed puzzle box that made few concessions to casual listeners. Critics balked, fans scratched their heads. In a finger-snap, Massive Attack had surrendered their status as the most bullet-proof band in Britain.
But as the LP’s 20th anniversary approaches, there is surely a case to be made for 100th Window as a misunderstood masterpiece. True, it’s harder work than any of the Nineties trilogy of Blue Lines (1991), Protection (1994) and Mezzanine (1998). Choruses are at a premium; the smooth grooves that were once a Massive Attack signature are replaced by barb-wire guitars and beats that rumble like...
- 2/6/2023
- by Ed Power
- The Independent - Music
Pete Tong has been granted a restraining order against Massive Attack singer Shara Nelson, who claims that she is his wife. Nelson, who sang on the trip-hop duo's 1991 hit 'Unfinished Sympathy', also said that the Radio 1 DJ is her manager and often harasses him with nuisance phone calls, a court heard. The singer gave her surname to the court as Tong and insisted that they have a child together. Tong, who recently celebrated 20 years at Radio 1, said that her claims are untrue and have caused "distress (more)...
- 8/11/2011
- by By Robert Copsey
- Digital Spy
Robert '3D' Del Naja has said that Massive Attack would never intentionally plan to make a star-filled album. The band's upcoming LP Heligoland features a number of guest singers, including Damon Albarn, Tunde Adebimpe, Guy Garvey, Martina Topley-Bird and long-time collaborator Horace Andy. Massive Attack's previous records have also boasted vocals from artists including Shara Nelson, Tricky, Tracey Thorn, Elizabeth Fraser and Sinéad O'Connor. Del Naja told Metro: "We'd never make a deliberately star-studded album but when you (more)...
- 2/3/2010
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
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