*** Massive Attack

MEZZANINE

(Virgin)

So tell me again: what was trip-hop? Did anyone ever really know? Well that may be a moot point now that one of tip-hop's principal exemplars has moved far beyond the bounds of this always dubious subgenre. Combining Jamaican dub with Middle Eastern motifs and ambient soul with all-out rock, Massive Attack are back with 11 tracks that are both completely danceable and unremittingly ominous. Mezzanine's first track, "Angel," gets things off to a roaring start, climaxing with a burst of distorted guitars that makes the band's choice of moniker more appropriate than ever. "Man Next Door" transmutes a sample from the Cure's "10:15 Saturday Night" into a doom-laden soundscape dominated by cavernous drums and swirling synths. The airy, pronunciation-challenged singing of Cocteau Twin Elizabeth Fraser graces three tracks here, the most notable being "Teardrop," with its somber death-knell piano. Not exactly full of indelible melodies, this is music that can easily fade into the background if you let it; but give it your attention and it will reveal a depth of texture that expands over repeated listenings.

-- Mac Randall