Mezzanine (Mezzanine: Limited Edition - Massive Attack)

Member Name: Fatlad

Product:	Mezzanine: Limited Edition - Massive Attack
Date:	05/07/00 (53 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Teardrop

Disadvantages: Will never live up to "Blue Line"

Gone is the hip-hop feel, replaced with a more oppressive feel surrounds this the Bristol trio’s third album. Not surprising seeing as two of the band members weren’t talking to each other. Recorded in a similar style to the Beatles 1968 “White Album” it saw the group working on songs individually. They also took a more natural approach to recording, utilising musicians, rather than samples to create the songs.

Starting off with a deep rumbling bass, the drums fades in and ticker along until the guitar comes in. it has a dark, oppressive, heavy feel. It captures a lot of tension. This opener “Angel” is as good an opener you could wish for. It sets the tone perfectly. “Risingson” has a funkier bass line(although it is far from funky) and has a gruff vocal, and features Hoarse Andy again. It has echoes fading in and out, if unconsciousness could be captured as a song this would be it.

“Teardrop” is the albums hidden gem. Hidden that is in so many good tracks. Rumour has it that Madonna had wanted to do the vocal, but I think it would have spoiled it. A delicate song and probably the most like previous albums of anything here. It is a beautiful song. The video, by the way is pretty good too. The song conveys a sense of hope and light unlike the rest of the album. The next song “Inertia Creeps” couldn’t be more of a contrast. An eastern horn like sound signals the start before the heavy drum pattern kicks in.

Overall, as dark as anything they’ve produced before, but a little more nineties.

Summary: