Mezzanine by Massive Attack is widely considered the Bristol trip-hop group’s dark, brooding masterpiece and one of the most influential electronic albums of all time. Originally released on 20 April 1998 via Circa and Virgin Records, the album marked a significant sonic shift from the band’s earlier soul-infused works into a murky, menacing, and industrial atmosphere.
This vinyl pressings of the album are typically released as a heavyweight 2LP set (180-gram) to preserve its deep basslines and dense, layered production.
Sonic Profile & Description
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- The Sound: Co-produced by the group alongside Neil Davidge, Mezzanine expanded the boundaries of trip-hop by incorporating a live rock band alongside heavy electronic production. It heavily features hypnotic rhythms, dark basslines, turntable scratching, and eerie post-punk and dub textures.
- Vocal Collaborations: The album is celebrated for its guest vocalists. Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins delivers the iconic, emotional vocals on “Teardrop”, while reggae legend Horace Andy provides his signature beautiful, stark vocals on tracks like “Angel” and “Man Next Door”.
Track Listing
The double-LP features the complete 11-track sequence:
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- Side A: Angel, Risingson
- Side B: Teardrop, Inertia Creeps, Exchange
- Side C: Dissolved Girl, Man Next Door, Black Milk
- Side D: Mezzanine, Group Four, (Exchange)
