1991 spoilt us in many ways musically, not least with the release of Massive Attack's Blue Lines, a real melting pot album. Dub's basslines, reggae's sound systems, hip hop's rhythms, punk's DIY attitude. Unfinished Sympathy gets all the plaudits (quite rightly, it's an astonishing record) but Safe From Harm is a huge and brilliant song, led by the driving and tautest of basslines (sampled from Billy Cobham's Stratus) and then overlaid with 3D's paranoia rap and Shara's vocals. The long version from the 12" is has more of everything that's good about this song.
Safe From Harm (Long Version)
What a great way to start my Saturday morning. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThe lyrics in the title were a lift from Johnny Watson's - Looking Back. Which I knew from Dr.Feelgood's version.
ReplyDeleteKurtis Mantronik was the first to flip that Stratus break too, on GetStupid Part 3. Not being finicky, just giving credit where it's due. Safe From Harm is dope.
ReplyDeleteThanks Luke. It all adds up. I didn't know the Johnny Watson lyric steal.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing track. For me, Massive Attack never bettered the debut. I suppose it was just so unique-sounding at the time, the surprise factor wasn't as strong in anything that followed. Safe From Harm is still my fave track of theirs.
ReplyDeleteI'd go for 3 man army myself but no splitting hairs on this. We were blessed for those golden early 90s years
ReplyDeletespent Friday evening going through Blue Lines and other classics, a great period for music.
ReplyDeleteDaydreaming is the one for me but as Anto says splitting baw hairs here. It is an amazing album Have to disagree with The Robster I think that they just got better and better although a darker more claustrophobic sound up until Heligoland which is slightly lighter.
ReplyDeleteBlue Lines is a masterpiece - no throw away tracks and every moment is just captivating. Unfinished Sympathy in an immense song, but Safe From Harm is a song that surrounds you and then penetrates deep inside you. It opens like a growing storm and Shara Nelson is singing out from the eye. 3D raps like a man desperate for shelter but aware it's not just the storm that's coming for him. Well, at least that's the imaginary video I've always had in my head when I hear Safe From Harm.
ReplyDeleteyeah Massive Attack, everything was lifted and put back better (?). thats the point isn't it? cross pollination. digging' and really digging to make something new again. johnny watson 'looking back', although the original lyric, probably wasn't where they got it from. more likely lou rawls 'girl from ipaneama' (2.50), lou is vibing on the lyric. this version was a fave of the rare groove scene that they were involve in at the time. love the mash-up, just like life really.
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