Customer Reviews

Tear Drop

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Massive Attack are the pioneers of that genre of music known as "trip-hop". Trip hop is electronica with a delicate touch - pumping beats combined with a delicate vocal, or a sensitive sample. Being the pioneers of this field, Massive Attack have long been assumed to be the maters of the genre...and with good reason. Massive Attack have created the genre, and then have repeatedly pushed the boundaries back. "TearDrop", the first single of their third album, "Mezzanine" is a tune that happily continues this tradition. It features the trip hop trademarks of a firm and pounding drum beat with a superb and beautiful vocal from Elizabeth Fraser. Words cannot describe just how good her delivery of the vocal is... Also included on the single are two further remixes of TearDrop. One of them is average - an effort by the Scream Team that is not of the same quality of the original track due to the overload of samples and noise. The other remix, by long time Massive Attack co-collaborator the Mad Professor is brilliant. He too understands the principles of trip-hop. The point being to enhance the vocal rather than drown it out in a cacophony of samples and special effects. T.M.P basically recuts the entire track, enough to sound almost original as opposed to a simple derivative remix. Also on the disc is an interesting remix of "EuroChild" called Euro Zero Zero. "EuroChild" was a song from the groups second album, available from Amazon, "Protection". The track is a basic recut of that song, with some added beats and a more ominous close. A nice experiment, and a decent track but hardly one you'll be rushing to tell your friends about. This CD is sessential however to the serious Massive Attack or trip-hop fan. The song is destined to become a trip-hop anthem - it is the epitome of everything that is fresh and exciting in this wonderful new genre. {19/7/2000}

Like all of MA's releases, I was uncertain of what to make of "Teardrop" when I first heard it. Darker than previous singles and not quite as obviously "sexy", it's a challenging first listen. But Liz Fraser's hypnotic vocals and the subtle musical storm that rolls in the distance behind her insinuate themselves into your subconscious until you have no choice but to surrender to the chilling beauty of the track.
Of the two remixes here, the Scream Team (Primal Scream's production posse) version is the real standout. Also included are a Mad Professor remix and a haunting alternate version of "Eurochild" from MA's previous CD, "Protection"

The track listing for this release is:

1) Teardrop [LP Version] 5:31
2) Euro Zero Zero 4:24
3) Teardrop (Scream Team Remix) 6:45
4) Teardrop (Mad Professor Mazaruni Instrumental Mix) 6:22

Massive Attack is great techno, Teardrop is a lovely song, that will be stuck in You head forever...then the Mad Proffesor remix brings out the lyrics a little clearer, and makes it that much more meaningful.