Red Lines: Bristol, England

8th August 2004 - Nandrin, Belgium

Massive Attack at the Nandrin festival, were at their festival best.
The sound was good, and in contrast to the Bristol gig a few days before, massive got on after dark, so the light show worked better.
They started of with Angel, Risingson and Black Milk Redux, as is custom in the 2004 tour.
Every track brought as it should. Same for Karmacoma nicely done, sounded great. after which 3D criticized the separation of the Palestine’s by the Israeli government, comparing it to the apartheid regime in south Africa. Next on is Bullet is perhaps the strangest track in the set. It’s new, and nobody knows what it should sound like, but it doesn’t really sound like a track, more like 10 minutes of jamming on a drum and bass loop. Teardrop starts of with just Dot on stage, no stagelights, relying completely on the popularity of the track. Many feel that this is too big a task for Mrs Allison, but she’s getting the hang of it, the track certainly is a crowd pleaser.
Time for Mezzanine, Dee dedicates it to the Jamaican day of independence.
Lots of (mini) screen action on this track, but as the band is set in front of the screen, it’s impossible to recognize any of the wordings. The Big wheel together with the new massive vocalist (Hazel Fernandez) is a bit of a let off for the die hard fans, done in the style of Horace’s solo tours. Still with the recognisable didgeridoo like sound, but without the beats.
Safe From Harm still holds the charm, and very well sung by Hazel. Dee walking over to the drummer, standing with his back to the crowd during Angelo’s guitar solo. Dot did a little guitar jamming of her own. At the end Dee pointed out that all the names that passed by on the screen were those of innocent Iraqi casualties, and said.” A quick moment for remembering these people !! Fucking Tony lied, thousands died.”
Inertia Creeps went well with the crowd, handclapping trough the whole guitar part.
Only time I think when Angelo went to the centre of the stage demanding attention.
Unfinished Sympathy has its place after inertia for almost 7 years now and is a welcomed breather. All in all massive play a decent, but apart from bullet also a very classic set.
One could ask why after 11 tracks, not a single track from the 100th window album featured.
The only one they play is last tour’s opener Future Proof. It had to be well altered to withstand comparison with the famous Group Four finisher. But it certainly does. It sounds very swaying in the beginning perfectly fitting Dee’s whispering vocals, even more because there’s some wind breezing sound on it now. After about 5 minutes the guitar build up kicks in, accompanied by various keyboard sounds ,lots of echo and distortion. Keeps on building up for about 4 minutes till suddenly it falls back on its starting sound, swaying, windy breeze …… wonderful track to finish with.
Another Massive Attack gig under the belt, the 12th in my long fan career.
They still are worth the money. P.

thanks to P for the review & photographs

thanks to Bert a.k.a Bbam for the photographs

Nandrin