Bleep

Massive Attack were ready to kill the very thing they helped create. Revisionist history paints their landmark third LP Mezzanine as a high water mark for the “trip-hop” genre, but in real time it was something like a refutation of the very idea. Stripping away some of their earlier detritus, the album was a defiant step away from the hype, a course correction towards something deeper, grittier, more real.

As dim and dingy as that overexposed beetle on the cover, the album is a deep dive into the dark recesses of the mind. 3D’s fingerprints are all over the place, favouring deep, cavernous dub and experimental electronics over the more hip-hop inspired noise of yore, setting a firm tone over the group’s identity and democratic workflow for the remainder of their existence. And yet, in other ways the album marks Massive Attack’s most collaborative period outside the foundational group. Lou Reed, Sarah Jay, and Plantasia mastermind Mort Garson all pop up in the tracklist, lending just enough of a lighter, communal vibe to air out the stuffiness that threatens to turn the whole turgid. Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser takes multiple star turns as well, essentially becoming a full fledged member during the band’s touring duties in support. However, for all the accolades and attention, Mezzanine was not without its casualties. Founding member Mushroom left in a huff just before its release, citing creative differences. It’s fair to say that Massive Attack’s brightest moment sent shivers down the group’s fault lines, setting the tone for the group’s more fallow period.

As we look back on Mezzanine 15 years on for Bleep’s From The Archives series, what’s most striking is how much it still sounds like today.