Mezzanine (Double LP)

"It was after extensive touring and some considerable time working on remixes for other artists (including Garbage and Madonna to name but two), that Massive Attack unveiled their third album proper, 'Mezzanine'.

Although some had written the band off as has-beens, this album immediately announced that not only was the group back, but they had at last recorded a series of songs as worthy, and if not more revelatory as was on their debut release, 'Blue Lines'. Incorporating a studio band into their miasma of keyboards and samples, the group again used the brilliant vocals of Horace Andy, as well as the Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser and newcomer Sara Jay.

The first four songs "Angel," "Risingson," "Teardrop," and "Inertia Creeps" are complete stunners that reverberate with a wealth of moods and textures that would make any DIY studio hack drool with disbelief. And, although there are of course lesser-inspired numbers on this release, for the most part, 'Mezzanine' contains enough primal rhythms and ethereal tinged melodies to make it a damn near work of genius - a hands-down essential purchase!"
-MARTY