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Sunday 27 February 2022

Thirty Seven Minutes Of Massive Attack

This week's Sunday half hour mix comes from Bristol courtesy of Massive Attack. It's difficult now to remember exactly the impact Massive Attack had back in 1991 when Blue Lines was released, instantly switching on the heads of people to the reggae/ dub/ hip hop (soon to be trip hop) sound. Ravers, house heads, indie kids, almost everyone, was suddenly listening to something else. They went on to make some stunning songs and records after that but maybe with slightly less of 'the shock of the new' that they had in spring '91 (a time when they also dropped the word Attack from their name due to the bombing of Iraq by the US led coalition). Protection and Mezzanine both had outstanding songs and moments (plus the various remixes and versions, not least Mad Professor's dub of the whole Protection album). After that my interest came and went and I've dipped in and out (dipping back in for the remixes from Heligoland and 2016's Ritual Spirit EP. 

The thirty seven minute mix below tries to avoid the obvious mixes even if it goes for some of the big hitter songs and has a dub vein running through it, ideal for making your Sunday breakfast too. I realised putting it together that it could be three times the length without any drop off in terms of quality. It takes in vocals from Horace Andy, Tracey Thorn, Liz Fraser and Hope Sandoval, remixes by Brian Eno, Mad Professor, Larry Heard and Gui Boratto and has the combined talents of Smith And Mighty, Johnny Dollar and Nellee Hooper at the producer's desk. 

Thirty Seven Minutes Of Massive Attack

  • Hymn Of The Big Wheel (Nellee Hooper Mix)
  • Protection (The Eno Mix)
  • Safe From Harm (Instrumental Original Mix)
  • Teardrop (Mad Professor Mazaruni Mix)
  • Any Love (Larry Heard Remix)
  • Paradise Circus (Gui Boratto Remix)

4 comments:

Rickyotter said...

Loving this mix Adam. That Mad Professor Dub album No Protection is an all time classic

Swiss Adam said...

It is, the seven minutes of the opening dub of Protection especially.

Echorich said...

Just spectacular!

Khayem said...

Well, I'm biased, but this is a bloody good mix, Adam. Good choice of Mad Professor dub, though of course every Massive Attack song he touched was pure gold.

In another prime example of blogging harmony, my Sunday post featuring Mark Lanegan included both a Massive Attack cover version and a Gui Boratto remix.

I'm still greatly enjoying your previous mixes, by the way. Last week was particularly dominated by Mark Lanegan, but Moon Duo, Daniel Avery, Mogwai... week after week, they're really hitting the mark.