I’ve just read a great book by Melissa Chemam : ‘Massive Attack Out Of The Comfort Zone. The Story Of A Sound, A City And A Group Of Revolutionary Artists’. I believe Massive Attack are probably the most influential British band of the last thirty years and this book is very good at putting them in the contexts – Britain, Bristol, sound system culture, hip hop and graffiti culture, the 80s and 90s – from which they emerged. I remember when their debut album Blue Lines came out circa 1990 – it was the chill out album that was on permanent rotation after every heavy night out. It also spearheaded – for a want of a better term and one that Massive Attack themselves don’t like – the whole trip hop genre. This sound – breaks, soulful vocals, clever samples, reggae flavors, rapping in regional accents, all fused by a yearning melancholia – could have only come out of Britain generally and Bristol specifically.  Like many, I posit that ‘Unfinished Symphony’ is one of the greatest – not just British, but globally – soul records there is.

Of course leading up to Blue Lines the 70s and 80s in Bristol were influenced by a strong Caribbean sound system culture of blues parties, MCing and reggae. The most influential sound system was the Wild Bunch that included a cast of influential characters – Nelle Hopper, 3D, Mushroom, Tricky, Daddy G – who would go on to form Massive Attack. The constantly revolving door of talent – Horace Andy, Elizabeth Frazer, Nicolette, Tracey Thorn etc – who would guest on numerous productions over the years borrowed from this sound system style of doing things. A non traditional band structure with an open door policy that allowed for creativity and flexibility. 

Given 3Ds long history with graffiti, pre-dating Massive Attack by many years, the band have always had a very strong visual identity. 3D produces much of the art work for the album covers and posters as well as the stage productions for their live shows which have always relied heavy on projections and films. For their last tour, the documentary film maker Adam Curtis produced the visuals for the video backdrops. There has also been a lot of speculation that Banksy – also a Bristolian – could indeed be 3D, but then how much talent and time could one man really have?

Of course, after reading the book you also get a strong sense of place and how Bristol and the environs influenced their sound and attitude. In the West of England, the town has always had an anti-establishment bent and a sense that it is removed from London and hence dances to it’s own drum. Things are a bit slower, more relaxed and less pretentious. An environment that lets creativity prosper away from the rush and media spotlight of London. It’s going to take 4 years to make the next album? So be it. Let’s not forget, Massive Attack aside the amount of unique talent – the Pop Group, Portishead, Roni Size, Martina Topley Bird, Beak, IDLES, to name a few who have come from the West. There’s clearly something in the water – or more likely in what they are all smoking.