So much to say about this song...
Where to begin?
With the music and the video, of course:
Massive Attack - 'Teardrop' (Official Video)
The third time I went to Massive Attack's studio, in July 2015, my goal was to talk more about their third album, Mezzanine... I knew it wouldn't be easy, because the band cherish mystery... And this album finally broke them apart.
The irony of such a peaceful, harmonious song ending up creating deep divided always saddens me. But there was more that the personal conflicts. The album was born out of sonic conflicts... i.e once more out of the band's "comfort zone".
In the meantime, I had been able to visit Christchurch Studios, in Clifton, to meet lengthily with Neil Davidge, and to run into Elizabeth Fraser and Damon Reece in a few Bristol streets...
Happy 22 'Teardrop', beautiful marvel.
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More in my book:
Rough Trade Books of the Year 2019 No. 15
This book is dedicated to the history of the band Massive Attack and to their relationship with their home town of Bristol, a city built on the wealth generated by the slave trade. As a port Bristol was also an arrival point for immigrants to the UK, most notably the Windrush generation from the Caribbean in the 1950s.
Author Melissa Chemam's in-depth study first focuses on the influences that led to the formation of the hi-hip collective The Wild Bunch and then Massive Attack. It looks into Bristol's past to explore how the city helped shape one of the most successful and innovative musical movements of the last 30 years.
The book is based on interviews, meetings, encounters, discussions, exchanges, emails, research and more... With about 30 Bristol artists, from Robert Del Naja to Mark Stewart, Ray Mighty and many others, including Tracey Thorn, Tricky and Martina Topley-Bird.
It examines the band's inner tensions between the founding members of Massive Attack - 3D, Daddy G and Mushroom - their influences, collaborations, art, shows and politics. It also retells the way they opened the door for other Bristol musicians and artists from Tricky, Portishead and Alpha, but also Gorillaz and street artists such as Banksy.
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