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Small Attack

16th March 2003 - Convention Center, Brisbane, Australia

FUTURE PROOF
EVERYWHEN
RISINGSON
BLACK MILK
ANGEL
SPECIAL CASES
BUTTERFLY CAUGHT
HYMN OF THE BIG WHEEL
TEARDROP
NAME TAKEN
MEZZANINE
SAFE FROM HARM
INERTIA CREEPS
ANTISTAR
UNFINISHED SYMPATHY
GROUP FOUR



The last time Massive Attack played in Brisbane was on the back of their ‘Mezzanine’ album at the delightfully quaint Festival Hall venue. With that memorable venue on the planners desk for a fresh new apartment make-over, it was with a pinch of curiosity that we encroached upon the convention centre to see the group show their new album, ‘100th Window’, as well as their accomplished back catalogue of soul, trip hop, and dub.
Well, the new joint is definitely different to your regular gig venue, with smokers being restrained outside, and alcohol being confined to the foyer, making for a smoke free room without a sticky floor littered with empty cups. And you know what? It was really cool, the atmosphere was great as people entered and either took their seats on the sides or grabbed their place close to the stage, nodding to the sounds of Koolism scratching and dropping all flavours of funk and hip hop,
The mounting tension dropped as Koolism faded out his last tune and the lights slowly dimmed, and then behind the stage began what many had been almost as curious of as what the band might play – a small digital read out of the time. Was this to be the grand lighting show that had been raved about in the press releases? As a bassist, drummer and keyboardist crept up to the stage amidst smoke and a smattering of light, soon to be joined by vocalist 3D and a generous amount of cheers from the crowd, they launched into their first tune, and what was a simple digital clock exploded with light into what has to be the biggest airport arrival/departure sign I’ve ever seen. Throughout the night this large backdrop bombarded the viewer with a barrage of messages from the subliminal to the sublime, and although a rather minimal idea, its accompaniment for the bands brooding repertoire was nothing short of superb.
The beginning of the set was an assortment of minimal, sombre tunes, being played skilfully by the three constant musicians and joined by the various guest vocalists that joined the entourage on this sojourn. A definite highlight was the performances of dub legend Horace Andy, converting "Angel" into a different atonement of devotion. As the selection of the tracks started to move into the set, the tunes definitely started taking the soulful colour of some of group’s best musical moments. The band was joined by a female guest vocalist who performed what I thought were wonderful renditions of some of their best tunes, including "Teardrop". I’m sure many missed the accomplishments of the original voices, but letting someone else give it their own colour inevitably showed what beautiful songs they are.
The final third of the set introduced yet more members of the band - a young female violinist who played through an assortment of effects, creating an orchestra unto herself, and another female guest vocalist, Dot Allison, who was the unprecedented diva for the night. Now I don’t use these words lightly, I mean all the vocalist performing tonight invited the audience into the palm of their hands, but this lady announced it like gospel, such was the spell of her eyes, voice, and demeanour. And as she launched into "Unfinished Sympathy", I realised how the set had developed from brooding sombreness into soul-fuelled hope.
I think perhaps this may have been a hit or miss gig for a lot of the Massive Attack fans, with differing vocal roles and a light show that diffused their music’s integral intimacy, and even I was lost a little in the fist third of the set. But by the end of the second encore, the band once again showed why they are the pioneers that they are. Their music is not meant for easy listening. It is presented to the listeners for them to question their own experience and values, and judge for themselves what it is that their world offers. Tonight Massive Attack guided us towards an answer that contains nothing but hope, and the explosive power that comes with it.
Wayne Leslie