The secret is in the mix. Jamaican cadence, deep bass, broken rhythms, pounding percussion, warlike guitars and dragged rap. A quarter of a century after the label trip hop was created to locate Massive Attack, The formula is still valid. The Bristol Sound System led by Robert Del Naja “3D” -the white- and Grant Marshall “Daddy G” -the black one- made the night much denser on Mount Kobetamendi, elevating the public to that state, known as Karmacoma, that everyone longed for.
It all started long before the Planets review their Super 8 or what Prodigy became the energy drink that the most Duracell festival-goers needed: at around six in the evening, the different stages of the BBK festival came to life with artists such as Stivijoesviral phenomenon with its theme Therapy; the energetic pop of Punsetteso Sen Serra, what I sing Beautiful coincidence, without Aitana, but accompanied by a ten-meter obelisk. Night began to fall, with the Basque grass already overflowing, while Air White light radiated from a large rectangular box placed along the stage, where only a drummer accompanied the French duo. The rectangle was white, the French were dressed in white, and they even had grey hair to match. Seeing them like that, very static, almost museum-like, was like looking at a pop painting. They played with elegance Moon Safari, His legendary album inspired by the pioneers of electronic music, thus passing through hits such as Sexy Boy o Kelly Watch the Stars, although the most magical moment of the memorable experience came with the unexpected instrumental version ofPlayground Love, his unforgettable theme for The Virgin Suicides, by Sofia Coppola.
Massive Attack had not set foot in our country since they celebrated, five years ago, 20 years of Mezzanineanother legendary album, perfect synthesis of that double fondness for Jamaican sounds and the darkest new wave. In fact, Nagusia jumped onto the stage with Risingsongone of the great songs on the album with the black beetle cover. The best proof of this black and white eclecticism are undoubtedly its star collaborators, such as Horace Andy, the angelic-voiced Rasta forged in Kingston’s Studio 1, who has been with them since their first albums and who they immediately introduced as “their best friend”, before, throughout the concert, he recalled collaborations such as Angel o Girl I love You. Right after he did it Liz Fraser, the heavenly voice of Cocteau Twins, the atmospheric pop band that sailed through the 80s like a dream sung in unknown languages. In addition to his already known collaborations with the band, he surprised with Song to the Siren, your wonderful version of Tim Buckley, recorded for This Mortal Coil, the most personal project of Ivo Watts, producer of the 4 AD label. A cult song, but known to the general public after having been cheapened in a perfume advertisement.
Beyond collaborators like Young Fathers o Deborah Miller, who also took to the stage, the versions are another example of the spiritual and musical diversity of the group, from a timid In My Mind, of Gigi D’Agostino, which sounded as an intro, to Rockwrokof Ultravox which incited anti-system pogo. Massive Attack has always been a politically committed band, to the point of renouncing their own name when NATO invaded Iraq. From the screen, the ultra-sophisticated visuals constantly launched more or less subliminal messages of a strong anti-capitalist spirit, showing their militancy in favor of Ukraine and Gaza. Floating numbers, philosophical questions (is time real?), movie moments (Lawrence of Arabia), and some of the bad guys from the movie, like Putin o Netanyahu.