Massive Attack, British Summer Time

In a post-Brexit UK, people are angry. Especially in the capital in which a vast majority voted to remain in the European Union. Upon seeing Massive Attack in February I knew their live sets were politically charged to the max. Whether it be the refugee crisis or the vapidity of celebrity gossip, the Bristol trip-hoppers have a political voice that cannot be quenched. 

The music at British Summer Time was fantastic during the day. Support sets by Ghostpoet, Shura and Warpaint stood out as haunting and professional- aware that people didn’t pay for them so stuck to the blindingly good hits. Patti Smith disappointed with bland calls to arms for “fuck the system and big corporations”, the irony of there being a huge Barclaycard logo behind was lost to the punk veteran. Although impossible to escape big brand marketing and £8 pulled pork burgers, the festival is certainly all about the music and especially the headliners Massive Attack.

Opening with a chilling reproduction of ‘United Snakes’ I was silenced. The visible band (I’m certain many more were behind the scenes) were so professional and sombre, it was like watching an orchestra. To an extent, the entire show was formal. With such a wild stage design with a huge LED panel with complex and shocking imagery it is difficult to stray from what is rehearsed. Some moments lacked emotion, with songs such as ‘Inertia Creeps’ leaving me wanting to curl up and cry at the prospect of Article 50. My Brexit anxiety hit its peak at ‘Eurochild’, last performed in 1998, Robert Del Naja begged us not to give into “the bigots and the racism” before flooding the stage with an EU blue.

Massive Attack are known for their collaborators, this being one of their biggest shows of the year, the band pulled out all the stops. Young Fathers (whom Massive Attack called “future headliners”) launched onto stage to perform four songs; ‘Voodoo Blood’, ‘Old Rock n Roll’ ‘Shame’ and ‘He Needs Me’. Their passionate performance style injected life into Massive Attack’s storming set but helped upkeep the fear and anxiety. A surprise for many was the guest spot of contemporary Tricky as the band had shared a mutual disharmony with him for many years. In comparison to the professionalism of 3D and Del Naja, Tricky was a bull in a china shop and difficult to love or get into due to his low pulled cap. A single song and then off, the beef is yet to be quashed. The standout guest was the inimitable Horace Andy (leg broken from a motorcycle accident) who sang Angel as the stage shone a bright white, the crowds were silent and arms just raised. 

The encore, pre tempted by an honest display of Syrian refugees- highlighting our own privilege, was certainly the standout of the night. As a string section entered slowly it was clear that Unfinished Symphony would be played. The audience, hearing one of the most iconic 90s songs, was silently joyful. A few hugs and a few smiles at strangers, but nothing more. Perhaps Massive Attack are not curing, but their burgeoning live presence certainly serves as catharsis.