Massive Attack are back, and while the new EP titled Ritual Spirit contains only four songs it is just long enough to show us that they are alive and kicking even more than six years ago when famous Heligoland came out.
Ritual Spirit is the first half of the package Massive Attack has for us this year. It is produced by 3D, and the crazy thing is that he managed to construct it solely using Fantom, an app that remixes songs using information like user’s heartbeat geolocation, or movement. While Ritual Spirit might be just a part of a promotional campaign for the app (since Fantom is released by Massive Attack) the songs sound fresh, innovative, and as a genuine product of a music-loving soul. EP features vocals of London rapper Roots Manuva, singer Azekel, and Scottish hip-hop group Young Fathers. Oh, and the best thing is that Tricky is present on EP, for the first time since 1994 and Protection.
The music itself is leaned more towards hip-hop side of the spectrum, featuring strong vocal performances, clever lyrics and a classic Massive Attack atmosphere in all four songs. It starts with Dead Editors, a pounding track that changes direction, tempo, and overall atmosphere in a way so crafty that it needs to be listened to at least dozen time in order to hear all of its nuances and layers; Roots Manuva is perfect behind the mic, making Dead Editors the best song on Ritual Spirit.
It all continues with Ritual Spirit, a title track empowered with Azekel’s serene vocals, a musical equivalent of late spring’s sunrise, calming, warming and mesmerizing. Voodoo In My Blood is filled with massive beats, unnerving atmosphere sounding like something coming straight from 2006’s 100th Window. Take It There closes this short trip into dark places of the mind, featuring Tricky’s vocals (it’s so good hearing his voice again in Massive Attack song), a song that sounds like they’ve taken best parts of Mezzanine and lumped them all together.
The second part of their new material should arrive sometime during this year, this time with Daddy G as the creator. Ritual Spirit is an incredible return to form, and if the second EP sounds as half as good as Ritual Spirit, 2016 will be a joyful year for all Massive Attack fans.
