Massive Attack: Out Of The Comfort Zone

2018 (and 2019, thanks to their belated tour, in perfect "lazy Bristol bastards' style") has been the year of Massive Attack's Mezzanine's twentieth anniversary. The publication of the English version of this book by journalist Melissa Chemam couldn't come in a better time. At last, I got it and came to read it. The story of this mixed-ethnicity group of youngsters, passionate about music, vinyls, crate-digging, street art is rightly set in the social, political, even musical background of the time, both in Bristol and in the UK, and this is something valuable, which never fails to be taken into the appropriate consideration. While focusing mainly on Massive, all the bands that formed in the Eighties and Nineties are given their space, included those, especially in the punk movement, that hugely came to influence MA music tastes. The beginnings and subsequent rise of the guys, first as The Wild Bunch and then as Massive Attack, with their unique music style, are narrated fluidly and with great accuracy. Beware, this is not a peeping-Tom, gossipy book, so if you are looking for scandals or members' love affairs, this is not the book for you! Melissa put a great effort in reading and collecting the great amount of interviews given by Grant Marshall and especially Robert Del Naja - the spiky-haired mastermind and dynamo of the band, the pioneer of graffiti art in Bristol, whose stubborn, fascinating and willing personality emerged throughout the years, often colliding with that of the other band members, leading them to leave the group - and had the chance to interview them personally. Song lyrics are also analyzed, thus throwing an interpretative light (one of the many that can be thrown) on their often enigmatic, cryptic meaning. Not to be forgotten is the fact that the author translated herself the book from French, her mother-language, into a very flowing, good-to-read English. Is this a book for fans? Well, yes and no. If you're a fan of the Bristol sound forged by MA and fellow groups in the Nineties, this is a must-read to get the full overview on the matter. If you're not, it surely adds to your music culture and is likely you'll feel like listening to some of those revolutionary artists' music after -or better, while-reading it. And get a little bit out of your comfort zone, as the Massive did and still do. Big ups!

Super

This is essential and great in many levels. It’s a must for the Massive Attack fan base. For budding and forged artists it will provide an insight in the inner workings of the multi dimensional collective of artists that make up the ever involving project that is Massive Attack. From a socio-political and culture point is provides turths and insights into how the contribution of the sons immigrants played a significant part in changing and shaping UK culture, and still continue to be ahead of the creative and cultural curve.A must read.

Thought this was an excellent read. It is well researched, knew many of the names and locations from my own youth (largely spent at the Dugout) and the descriptions were accurate and authentic. It was interesting to read how the band developed, especially around the art, politics and meaning of the lyrics. I wouldn’t worry about the translation, yes the odd word is wrong or missing but it does not detract from overall story.

As someone who has loved Massive Attack from the early days, this book release was eagerly awaited. With a band which has evolved over the years, it is interesting to see what makes them tick. The book was good, it included the socio economic circumstances, but somehow did not delve into the process of their music making, their thoughts, their differences. I would have loved to know what happened during mezzanine, except for punk vs hiphop. All what has been written here, has been written before in various magazines or interviews. In this aspect the book was disappointing, but for someone who has only recently discovered Massive Attack, it is an interesting read.