The formal introduction of Massive Attack into the music industry, no longer being souly part of the niche that was 'The Wild Bunch' was quite an event at the time. A solid accumulation of early dub, a hint of soul and the rebirth of reggae and some subtle influences from the emerging hip hop scene in the United States meant that this hybrid album would appeal to more the just one set of enthusiastic music lovers. 'Safe From Harm' the first track, just seems to ooze with cool. It's when you hear the rolling bass and the poignant and touching voice that is Shara Nelson that you know there's something warm and special about this record. As reggae happened to influence a lot of the people that were involved in the process of this album, you can quite easily pick out the ambiences that it is associated with. Horace Andy represents this, with his laid back and almost effortless approach with vocals. 'One Love', 'Five Man Army' and 'Hymn of the big wheel' being the most obviously effected, and what a wonderful effect it is.
As down-beat and relaxing as this album may be, there are some real jewels in this crown, some happen to shine brighter than others. The beauty that is 'Unfinished Sympathy' comes to mind. This chilling and almighty classic still has the power to churn some emotion inside of you, no matter how many years, or in this case decades pass. Shara Nelson again with her stunning vocals delivers a heart-felt serenade, that, when coupled with a fantastic orchestral score and a complimentary layered beat that provides a platform to connect with lovers of multiple genres.
The soul influences in this, what can only be described as a masterpiece are particularly evident, and seem to liase seemlessly with the reggae and dub contributions, one thinks of 'Blue Lines' the title track when describing this, along with the cheery and uplifiting 'Be thankful for what you've got' which almost tilts the record's ambience of mood, but in an attractive way.
It's obvious to see how this 'showpiece' launched Massive Attack into what would become a particularly successful career, and direction which would later prove to be an ever-changing one.
David Brennan
8.8/10 - Excellent | Highly Reccomended | Buy this album
