Trip Hop-The Bristol Sound
Massive Attack’s Mezzanine
Released 1998, on Cassette, CD, & Vinyl, Virgin Records
reviewed by pandrax (www.pandrax.com)

Dark and brooding, the sounds emanating from Massive Attack's third album, Mezzanine, are a far cry from their first two releases. However, this is a great move, since this album changed music as we know it, while at the same time no one heard any of it. You may may recognize Dissolved Girl from the movie The Matrix, however it wasn't credited or even put onto the soundtrack. Radio playtime?

Yeah, right. KROQ wouldn't play this! Who would? I would. Massive Attack, one of the three "Bristol Bands" (with Tricky and Portishead complementing - all three bands are from Bristol, England) couldn't even be put into a genre, so the Label-Friendly media created a genre, "Trip-Hop" (Portishead and Tricky are also said to be a part of this "genre" although none of the bands label themselves as such). While this is a somewhat name, it's been used more by other bands that wish to cash in on

the originality presented by the Bristol Trio. While these bands may be good, they're no match for the originals they wish to meet. Listening to Massive Attack's Mezzanine is an experience not unlike that of a lucid dream. I could even go as far as saying that this album is the only album in the world that is psychological, which isn't much of a stretch.

--pandrax (www.pandrax.com)

• Local Trip Hop artist George Sarah accompanied by string trio and guest vocalist Lili Haydn. Opening the show: The Negro Problem; dj all night - Kevin Lincoln from KCRW; Fri, Apr 14, 9pm at Arcadia (the club) 250 Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, 18 + full bar with ID $10, cover info line (310) 260-4807. Pick up latest 9 song demo at Rhino Records in Westwood, 1720 Westwood Blvd (310) 474-8685. Many thanx to Ariana at Kcrw where it's been getting a lot of spins - on their top 20 playlist. George Sarah has been nominated for an LA Weekly music award in “best electronic/dance artist.” on June 29 at the Henry Ford Theatre. - George Shimeal