Massive Attack - Bristol Gig
A blaze of purple lights and shuddering bass heralds the opening of a superb end-of-year home-coming concert by the mighty Massive.
On stage half an hour later than promised, the anticipation is at boiling point for the gig at Bristol Uni's Anson Rooms. But it has yet to reach its zenith - because with each song tonight, in a series of emotional builds and swells, Massive Attack take their home fans on an unforgettable journey.
It's a journey which witnesses the triumphant calm of 3D as he governs Rising Son. Then the sweet, sugary vocals of Horace Andy soar through Man Next Door. It's too much for the audience as Liz Fraser's ethereal vocals flutter through a chopped and scratched Teardrop - their whistles almost drown out the recent hit single. Later, brash grinding guitars, which have transformed Massive Attack as a live experience, paint Euro Child in vicious punk colours - sending 3D literally screaming into the mic.
Where some bands concentrate on reliving their best CD moments live, Massive Attack are beyond merely copying themselves. Every favourite has a new twist to it tonight. Karmacoma is darker, heavier and more eerie than ever, the web of laser lights adding to the spookiness. Mezzanine goes even further into a messed up contorted world - brash, distorted, this is an experience as darkly erotic as it's neurotic.
Then you have their tendency for rollercoaster mood swings. One minute we're wrapped up in One Love, Horace Andy joined by Massive's lush new vocalist, Deborah Miller, taking us to that life affirming place where we're all luv'd up and loving ourselves. The next they're distant, important and powerful, with Heat Miser and Inertia Creeps making us feel small, awed and grateful.
Thank goodness for Unfinished Sympathy which appears swathed in light and love. 'Truly, madly, deeply', those words could have been written for this song. And forget Shara Nelson. Her replacement, Deborah, has made this song completely her own, some major achievement itself.
When everybody finally reappears for Group Four the cheers are deafening. Liz Fraser's quivering vocals weave in and out of 3Ds, as this utter classic builds into a mesh of white noise, mad strobe insanity, machine gun drums and general mayhem.
When we're finally, gently, let down, they're hugging each other, we're hugging each other and we all wish it never had to end. Of course it had to, but everybody tonight left with something inside them which can never be taken away from them. Massive respect indeed.
-- Susanna Glaser © 1999
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