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Massive Attack at Queen Elizabeth Hall |
Contributed By: Dan Schwartz
Created On: Sunday, 15 June 2008
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 Massive Attack In recent years Massive Attack have found a more overtly political focus for this inner friction, protesting against the war in Iraq and supporting various related causes. Much of their Meltdown line-up reflects this understated anger. Saturday's show was introduced by Clive Stafford Smith, the lawyer who campaigns for the human rights of Guantanamo Bay detainees. The War on Terror also inspired much of the high-tech stage presentation, especially a giant digital screen, which blazed with grim statistics from Iraq and reasons for impeaching George Bush. At one point, it even became an airport-style departure board listing “extraordinary rendition” flights. This was 21st-century protest art, pointed but never preachy. Clever stuff.
Saturday's show drew heavily on new material from Massive Attack's forthcoming fifth album, as yet untitled, which is due in October. On this evidence the band are continuing their drift away from cinematic moodscapes towards more song-based, art-rock terrain. The American singer-songwriter Stephanie Dosen is one of the album's key guest vocalists. Looking incongruously like a sugar plum fairy among all the furrowed scowls and deep shadows, the waifish blonde provided several highlights, including the shimmering ballads Kingpin and Red Light.
Also on guest vocals, Yolanda Quartey belted out the edgy, soulful stomp All I Want and the skeletal, simmering torch song Harpsichord. Later in the show, she helped to bring the entire crowd to their feet with her rousing versions of the classic anthems Safe from Harm and Unfinished Sympathy. In between, Del Naja and Marshall provided their usual furtive, menace-laden raps on noirish sci-fi rumbles, including Rising Son, Mezzanine and a clutch of new tunes. Neither are natural performers, exuding an awkwardness that can be both endearing and frustrating. But Massive Attack's music, all monumental minimalism and uneasy listening, remains unique and impressive. This was a night, in many senses, of extraordinary renditions.
Meltdown continues until June 24. Massive Attack play again on June 22.
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