Review
Massive Attack's "Mezzanine," dropped in 1998, showcases a pivotal moment in electronic music, heralding a deep dive into the darker crevices of sound that had yet been unexplored in their previous work. This third studio album is a masterful blend of alternative rock, hip hop, and reggae, breaking away from their earlier trip-hop roots. The album's creation, spanning from mid-1996 through early 1998, marked a significant turning point for the group, signaling the departure of Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles, one of its founding figures. Praised for its complex soundscapes and genre-blending audacity, "Mezzanine" has captured the imagination of both avid listeners and critics, solidifying its reputation as Massive Attack's magnum opus.
In terms of both sonic depth and visual presentation, "Mezzanine" embodies a cohesive experience of introspection and innovation. Its sound is simultaneously haunting and exquisite, accentuated by the striking metallic imagery of its artwork. Among the tracks that stand out are the mesmerizing rhythms of "Angel," the somber beauty of "Teardrop," and the dub-infused "Man Next Door." While the album soared in popularity, it wasn't without hiccups; one notably being the legal hurdles encountered due to the use of a Manfred Mann sample in "Black Milk" without proper authorization, a mishap corrected in their 2006 "Collected" compilation. Despite such challenges, "Mezzanine" endures in the annals of music history, credited with inspiring a spectrum of artists and commended for its enduring influence across varied musical landscapes. - Karl
