Massive Arrack - M&S Arena, Liverpool, 29/11/2024

  by Richard Lewis

published: 1 / 2 / 2025

Named after the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C de-carbonization proposals, Massive Attack’s zero carbon touring and production practises makes the Bristolian trip-hop outfit beyond perfect for Liverpool’s Act 1.5 Accelerator City 2024 event. Taking the form of three shows on consecutive nights at the cities’ M&S Arena, A-listers Nile Rogers and Idles as fellow headliners are a welcome relief from the End of the Pier dreck the arena frequently hosts (Bobby Davro recently headlined a variety show here – no, honest). All of the above, the gig being Massive Attack’s first ever show in Liverpool and their first tour since 2019 means expectation is sky high. A series of messages on the dozens of screens forming the stage backdrop spark into life at the public transport supporting early start time of 8pm. Covering everything from global politics, the environment, celebrity culture, AI and myriad random interjections, the text scrolling across the screen evokes the emergency reports from terrifying nuclear apocalypse drama ‘Threads’. As more and more screens light up, the visuals include 1973 home footage of John Lennon trying out a newly purchased film camera, the messages giving way to increasingly sophisticated CGI video themed around imminent climate catastrophe. Assembled by filmmaker Adam Curtis, the show opening metaphorically machine guns the audience into submission for ten minutes, the similar to scrolling through TikTok at insane speed. As the images fade away the players assemble onstage in the shadows as a crisp wash of cymbals, a hypnotic drum pattern and 1998 classic ‘Risingson’ kicks in. While much of Massive Attack’s catalogue suits early hours listening, a room this size is the ideal location for the band’s deep, cavernous sound, the booming dub basslines beautifully captured. The honeyed tones of longest serving guest vocalist, reggae legend Horace Andy and former Cocteau Twins’ lead singer Liz Fraser, largely presumed to have retired from touring showcases a stellar line up of players. Frequent touring partners and musical brethren Young Fathers join the band for a clutch of tracks, culminating with an intense take on the paranoid thrum of ‘Voodoo In My Blood’. In addition to climate change, one of the gig’s overriding themes is data and how much is collected, stored and manipulated for good or ill. Images of audience members faces pulled from the venue’s CCTV flickers up on the screen at one point to audible astonishment from the crowd. Teasing out the post-punk element of their sound explored on 1998 classic ‘Mezzanine’, the band genuinely rock out on ‘Inertia Creeps’, courtesy of former Spiritualized sticksman Damon Reece and the guitar lacerations of Alex Lee, the successor to late instrumentalist Angelo Brushini. The centrepiece of the show sees the visuals replaced with stark white lighting as Horace Andy leads a bravura version of ‘Angel’. Tasked with handling the vocals for the ‘Blue Lines’ era Deborah Miller succeeds in stunning fashion, as ‘Safe From Harm’ is succeeded by the peerless ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ which sees the entire arena rise to its feet as its soon its looped motif begins. The guitar arpeggio of ‘Teardrop’ prompts an instant cheer of recognition, as Liz Fraser’s keening vocals envelop the crowd. A slightly incongruous cover of chart banger ‘Levels’ by Avicii, is followed by ‘Group Four’, a long, laid back stoned epic that draws the evening to a close. Del Naja and Marshall applaud the audience from behind their mic stands and then disappear offstage. A two hour restatement of principals in effect, over thirty years since they first arrived Massive Attack still sound like the future.

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