Published on May 23, 2005
Blue Lines is one of the most influential albums of the past
decade. It is to dance music what Nirvana’s
Nevermind is to grunge. For a band whose debut album has had
such an impact on music, Massive Attack is truly remarkable. This
album arguably created a whole new genre itself: trip-hop, an
offshoot of dance music. At the very least, it was definitely the
first trip-hop album to be a big commercial as well as critical
success. Though musically simple,
Blue Lines was very much ahead of its time as far as its
style is concerned.
As an album,
Blue Lines is sexy, seductive and subfusc. The opening track
“Safe From Harm,” with its killer bass-hooks, eerie background
music, and Shara Nelson’s mysteriously seductive vocals, is a
perfectly gothic dance number. This is followed by “One Love,”
which is all orgasms galore. Instead of going overboard with
sexuality like a lot of songs by Madonna or Prince, “One Love” is
subtle, smooth, and effusively erotic. The credit goes to Horace
Andy, one of the few singers who can make a sin like sleaze worth
committing.
Songs like “Blue Lines,” “Five Man Army” and “Daydreaming” keep
up the enjoyably livid mood built up by “Safe From Harm” and “One
Love”: gloomy and crazy, these three tracks wander aimlessly
without any proper structure, form, or chorus, with the band
members taking turns with the microphone, providing the impression
of apparitions whispering mindless words in different forms; isn’t
trip-hop music of the ghosts and for the dead?
Well, if
Blue Lines can be all spooky and intentionally subterranean,
it can also be as positive, heavenly and invigorating. “Be Thankful
For What You Got,” “Unfinished Sympathy,” “Lately” and “Hymn Of The
Big Wheel” are full of zest and warmth. It is amazing that these
numbers are packed on the same album as the distressingly dark
“Safe From Harm” and others.
If “Safe From Harm” is one of the grimmest tracks ever created,
then “Be Thankful For What You Got” is one of the most upbeat songs
ever made. With its down-to-earth vocals and innocently simple
words, this song overwhelms with its earthiness.
Also, “Unfinished Sympathy,” which is much more sophisticated,
creates a blissful atmosphere with Nelson’s unassumingly sweet
vocals driven by the divine string arrangement accompanying it; and
yes, its irresistibly foot-tapping beats are unforgettable.
The closing number “Hymn Of The Big Wheel,” is unbelievably
naïve and chaste, and shows the brilliance of the sleaze-man
Horace Andy, who can change from a wolf in sheep’s clothing to a
sheep in wolf’s clothing.
An album which is simple, spirited, subfusc, sexy and sleazy all
at the same time,
Blue Lines is an essential addition to any serious
collection.
Blue Lines is a classic and undoubtedly the mother of all
trip-hop albums.