`Mezzanine' is Trip Hop's logical conclusion, and this new sound is harder and more confrontational than before. It's closest relative in the music world is The Prodigy's `The Fat of the Land', although whereas that album fused heavy punk with dance music, `Mezzanine' fuses Radiohead-esque prog Rock with hip-hop. Opener `Angel' is a brooding, moody track, illuminated only by Horace Andy's androgynous crooning. It is a fine introduction to this schizophrenic, guitar heavy new sound, as Led Zeppelin-esque guitars come crashing down in the climax. `Risingson' was the track Massive Attack chose to release in September 1997 to preview the new album. Built around a looping bass line over which 3d and Daddy G rap, the track is vaguely psychedelic, what with 3d's talk of `clicking shines on foreheads' and samples of The Velvet Underground. Massive Attack are actually more similar to Reed's crew than you may think; both are (or were) fiercely experimental, yet never take fore granted the ability to construct a decent song.

The next track, `Teardrop' is many people's favourite track (myself included). A sublime and simple song built around a stuttering drum beat and harpsichord riff, it also introduces us to Liz Fraser (of the Cocteau Twins) and her soothing, impossibly high vocals. The accompanying video to the track was that of a baby in the womb, and the song does have the effect of rendering the listener to an embryonic state. The addition of sombre piano chords and subtle overdubs creates a stark, mesmerising and beautiful track, proof (if any were needed) that `Unfinished Sympathy' was not a one off. After cradling us with `Teardrop', we are severely awoken by `Inertia Creeps, an Eastern tinged rap track that uses its electric guitars to full effect. It also helps one understand why The Clash were thanked in the sleeve notes.

`Exchange' is probably the albums weakest moment, an instrumental that actually has little to do with Massive Attack, and seems too retro and backward looking in the midst of these thrilling new soundscapes. `Dissolved Girl' is much better, featuring Sara Jay who whispers and purrs where others might full-bloodedly sing. It is also the albums `chestburster' moment, as no sooner have we gotten used to the relatively sparse and soulful composition, a thunderous guitar with its amp on max invades the track, mimicking the previously discrete bass line. The fact that it was featured on `The Matrix' should have been a clue to this; other artists on it were Rage Against The Machine and Marilyn Manson. `Man Next Door' is initially reminiscent of `Exchange' and that track's shortcomings, in that it again is not a Massive Attack song and is similarly retro. But, in the context of the album, it works fine, what with its themes of suburban paranoia, Horace Andy's almost rude pronunciation of `fight' and the fact that it's very melodicism is welcome after the nuclear bomb of sound that was `Dissolved Girl'. `Black Milk' is the album's most danceable track, a hip-hoppy song that utilises Fraser's lolloping vocals and fuses it with a deep grooving bass line and synths to provide the album with the closest thing it has to bombast. `Mezzanine' and `Group Four' are the albums landmark progressive tracks, and should be taken as one epic 14-minute track, as they both share the new found heavily electric sounds that are the album's trademark. With their dark, vicious intensity, they could certainly teach Korn or Slipknot a thing or two about the fusion of rap and electric guitars. Whereas those groups are just axes, coming down on you in one fell swoop, Massive Attack is a shower of acid rain, permeating the melody constantly. Although this makes the album sound depressing, it is not (moody is the word), and Fraser's psychedelic interplay with 3d on `Group Four' is quietly exhilarating. `Group Four' is progressive rock, and I don't mean that in the derogatory manner with which it is usually intended. An eight minute epic, it is a perfect climax for the album. Except, in a magnificent coup, the album does not end there, but reprises `Exchange'. As with the previous albums, Horace Andy reappears for the final track, and he sings delicately and soulfully over the vamped up `Exchange', which has a heavier bass and several elements stripped away. The album ends not on fade out, nor a big epic blow out, but the sound of vinyl scratching. It seems strangely fitting, and I can't help but feel that this is the only version of `Exchange' that is required. `Mezzanine' is true heavy metal, an industrial strength hulk of steel, jamming out conversely fragile and brilliant melodies over its finely tuned sonic barrage.


multileveled magic   August 2, 2002
 61 out of 65 found this review helpful

Mezzanine was fixed, almost permanently in my car for two years. Now, it shares space with Morcheeba and Hooverphonic and Portishead, who also enjoyed semi-permanent status. Thing with Mezzanine is, there are so many levels of sound that every time you listen to it, you hear something new. That in itself is a wonder, but the vocals are simply gorgeous, the beats are hypnotic...bone conductive...and the lyrics are completely incomprehensible. With this album, it's all in the sound, which just wraps you up and takes you away. Massive Attack is a an eclectic mix of genres: jazz, pop, folk, rap, blues, even classical. They take what they need from each and create their own, unique sound. One of the best things about this album is the unique style of each cut: different vocalists, different styles, totally different sounds, but all absolutely Massive. I could not rate this album higher. I'm not a kid, I'm well past the half-century mark but always searching for really good new music and Mezzanine delivers in spades. The very first song on the album, Angel, has been in five films that I know of, including The Matrix! Why these movie guys never got past the first song is anybody's guess, but the rest of the album is just as good as the beginning. It just keeps getting better. I know Massive has a new album coming out and I'm almost afraid to hear it; equalling Mezzanine would be an amazing feat, but to best it seems impossible. Mezzanine just may be my favourite album of all time, ever, but be warned: you need a very good sound system to hear it all. There is nothing simple here.


Dark, brooding, phenomenal genius (now with big guitars!)   June 1, 1998
 27 out of 29 found this review helpful

With their third album, Massive Attack reclaim the "trip hop" (see Tricky, Portishead, Morcheeba, et al) throne while taking the music in a darker direction than their previous efforts (none of which are exactly "Walking on Sunshine," knowwotImean?). The core rapping duo of 3-D (sinister whispers) and Daddy Gee (deep-voiced nonsequiturs) really stand out here, especially on the title track and "Risingson." Frequent guest Horace Andy also gives a pair of great vocal contributions on the haunting opener "Angel" (which boasts some of the deepest sounding bass ever recorded)and the dubby "Man Next Door." Personally, I find myself lacking any strong reaction to Elizabeth Frasier's (ex(?)-Cocteau Twin) presence; her vocals are certainly good, but surprisingly more "there" than standing out. The main differences between this and previous Massive Attack albums are the "bigger" (read: louder!) beats (especially on the latter half of "Angel") and the greater use of guitar -- where previous songs like "Protection" found the guitar riding along rhythmically, it frequently breaks through into some great leads/breaks, as on "Group Four." So far, this is the best album of 1998.


The Essential Late Nite CD...   April 3, 2003
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is Massive Attack's essential work. It is the greatest midnight to early hour chill-out album ever created, an amazing blend of hip hop, rock, r&b, reggae, and soul seem to combine into one completely mind-blowing masterpiece. The complexity, yet beauty, of these tracks allow you to re-discover the songs over and over again.

"Angel" sets the mood for the album, my favorite track on the CD if I had to pick one (appeared on the movie "Snatch," which originally got me into Massive Attack). It's an incredible gem that puts you in a trance.

Every song has an addictive beat and rhythm, and most noticeably in the hip-hop style tracks, such as "Inertia Creeps" and "Mezzanine," both outstanding. My favorite of this style is "Rising Son," amazing vocals purified with a hypnotic beat.

Songs like "TearDrop" and "Dissolved Girl" allow the female vocalists of the group to shine, and they do a great job. Theses tracks provide a "cool out" to the album which fits perfectly. Other tracks which are very good are "Man Next Door," a catchy reggae tune, and "Black Milk." The only couple tracks I didn't get into were the two "Exchanges." To me, they're the only two rather dull moments on this '98 release, but who knows? Maybe I just haven't gotten into them yet.

An interesting point. I only got into Massive Attack, and especially this album, in 2002. I say this because I feel "Mezzanine" is the most timeless in their impressive collection. I recommend all their CDs, "Protection" is really good and "Blue Lines" is a classic, but to me the music from it is stuck in the 90s. This album will stand the test of time, pop it in 20 years from now and it will still be the essential late nite mix...


Transcending the dust of time   February 1, 2004
 13 out of 15 found this review helpful

Mezzanine influenced a whole generation and united numerous people all over the world on the Massive Attack message board. But by all its greatness, you'll still discover particular songs you like better than others.

Take "Angel": a mysterious voice is floating above a tribal beat, making battle to a menacing bass guitar. When the sweeping guitars take over, there's no escape anymore. You're captivated by this "Angel", your mystique companion on the way to the "Mezzanine". "Risingson" finds you trapped in the wrong movie: whistling winds are
followed by helicopter motor sounds. They seem to foresay the end of the world...Wrong! The causes of so much pathos are a petty alcohol problem and a party you're dying to leave- this is how overstatement's done! More of this on the excellent title track. It deals with people's common weaknesses- that is if you bother to decifer the lyrics. If not, you'll think it's about stealing holy relics on a stormy Friday 13 night. "Black Milk" is either the perfect soundtrack to your most intriguing nightmare, or the best background sex music. "Group four" offers more of that sexy tension: imagine rocking out with Eleanor of Aquitaine's ghost and you get the full picture. This is what "Mezzanine" excels at: taking the listener to a different world and painting it with the most luminous, vivid colors.

As there is the dark side of the moon, it's only logical for "Mezzanine" to have a more light, mellow side. "Teardrop" is the ultimate chillout song where Liz Fraser impersonates a crystal tear. "Man next door" surprises with its semi-optimistic mood, Horace Andy's voice can't but lift you to a higher ground. Even the filler instrumental
"Exchange" sounds beautiful on the vocal version. Sure, some of those tracks may have a bit of that letdown feel but that's the fate of decent songs on truly exceptional albums.

Then you've got "Inertia Creeps" and "Dissolved Girl", the tracks that build the bridge between the brooding and the relaxing tunes. Both of them illustrate the emotional whirlwind which defines Massive Attack's music.

I could go on for ages just reliving the feelings this album evokes in me, but a short, laconic conclusion will do: "Mezzanine" is the album you need to enrich bleak days of routine work. I warn you not to overdo it 'cause addiction can end in hatred.

Note to the reader: It took me a long time to come up with this review. I was never sure from which angle to write- MA's musical evolution, the clash of egos in the project, the fictional trip-hop genre etc. However, I decided the music is the only thing which matters, and not the hype around it. If you agree/disagree with this approach, feel free to make it known by clicking one of the buttons beneath the review.