Mezzanine
by Massive Attack

A unique sound and style unto them. Electronica/trip hop with a dark, deep, despondent, solemn overlay. One you really need to be in an exact mood when listening to fully appreciate, but also one that grows on you each time you return to it.

Shortlisted for the 1998 Mercury Music Prize. The winner was Bring It On by Gomez. Although BIO is a good album, this is head and shoulders the best album on the shortlist. Should have won

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An album that starts off very strong but begins to slowly drift off the closer you get to the conclusion. The music peaks really early with the first 3 songs being of outstanding quality. My favourite of the three is Risingson and it is the one I revisit most frequently. The album as a whole might not maintain this quality the whole way through but it does keep up its dark and introspective atmosphere. This gives us a thought provoking listen that is full of depth which makes it perfect for late night listening. When it is listened to in certain conditions this record is greatly enhanced and it can become one of the most unique experiences you can have with a record. The sampling and arrangements are excellent on here as well with them being integrated into the music so well that the music just flows. Overall, this is a very strong atmospheric album that has lots of quality but is let down by the fact that it is front heavy.

This album is just one dark hypnotic groove after the other. These grooves are catchy, memorable and create cohesion between the tracks. This heaviness is balanced out with a variety of lighter more "fragile" sounds, whether it be the vocals, guitars, pianos or subtle sound effects. Each touch feels carefully placed and meaningful, providing some variety between tracks to keep the listeners focus. Ultimately this album is a beautiful multi-genre blend and it is one of the first things that comes to mind when someone mentions the word trip-hop.

From Jboy56 03/28/2022 17:15 | #283540

First impression: Darker than previous albyúms, and for that is not necessarily a good thing.
The latter half of the album made a better impression. It takes time...

Many times, electronic albums sound like 10 versions of the same song. Mezzanine is far more diverse, as each song constitutes a separate idea.

The music is deliberate but not boring. Sensual but not tasteless. Intense but not one-dimensional.

In short, this might be the best electronica record I’ve ever heard.

Dark, atmospheric, brilliant. Sounds nothing like any other album I have. Couldn't agree more with earlier comment by D Krug2009 - "It’s the kind of album you put on driving in the city at night and just cruise to". A change in sound from their first two albums. The first 4 songs are an amazing start to the album. It fades away in the second half though unfortunately, which drags my rating down. My highlights are Risingson, Teardrop (obviously), Interia Creeps and Dissolved Girl.

From C_Krug2009 12/12/2021 01:25 | #277398 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

It’s a very dark ominous album that sounds like the vibe of Y2K. It’s the kind of album you put on driving in the city at night and just cruise to. Or you could listen to it in an introverted setting. It’s not my favorite Massive Attack album but it’s definitely worth listening to. It’s their most developed project for sure

Buen disco para crear ambiente