They say the physical single is dying out. I suppose in this iTunes era, were music can be consumed at the click of a button, that that is probably true.
And that is even more truer for bands such as Massive Attack, who for a long time now, have been a self-proclaimed "albums band". I guess if you look at the chart performance of some of their most iconic songs in the UK at least, you'll get the idea. Even their most popular single, Teardrop, barely scraped the UK Top 10 at #10 back in April 1998. Undoubtedly, if that was now it would'nt even get that high (unless being a bad cover version for charity, of course).
There's also the whole collecting end of physical music that you don't get with downloads, as the picture of my Massive Attack singles collection right above will attest, which is a shame as the old idea of pre-packaged music in single form seems to be mostly gone in Massive Attack's case, when you consider there was no physical singles off their last album, Heligoland.
The compromise to that was the Vinyl Factory limited edition E.P's, but unfortunately I'm generally against the release of limited edition only singles when real fans, who would like to feel some ownership over the music, can't get hold of them initially and are charged an arm and leg for them on Ebay.
I could go on lamenting the death of the physical single, but I'll cut to the chase with this post, which is a poll to find out what your favourite Massive Attack single is.
When I'm talking about singles, I'm not necessarily meaning just the song on its own, but the whole package including remixes, b-sides (if any), the accompanying promo video and the cover artwork. On those grounds, I'm going to have to go with Inertia Creeps as being my favourite single release from Massive.
It was a close call between it and Karmacoma. Both have a great bunch of remixes, the two most rewatchable Massive Attack promo videos to date and some nice sleevage to show off on your shelf. Inertia Creeps clinches it though for having Reflection, one of the best of Massive Attack's many great b-sides. Sometimes I even insert it into the running order of Mezzanine, where it feels right at home.
So if you would like to take a second out a give a vote in the poll about what your favourite singles package is from the Massive, your more than welcome.
I've also gathered together the majority of all the remixes/b-sides on all 16 Massive Attack singles from 1990-2010 (thank god for YouTube ;-)), just in case you need a helpful reminder of what's on each single.
Click image to visit the Discography page for Daydreaming
Daydreaming
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNA-XfduSE4" caption="Daydreaming"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-WDcNqWnoQ" caption="Daydreaming (Instrumental)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Daydreaming
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOsVON3y-jU" caption="Daydreaming (Luv It Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3kvp3prNLA" caption="Daydreaming (Brixton Bass Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTP5dlbB6MA" caption="Daydreaming (Luv It Dub)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYMQJCN8j6Y" caption="Any Love (2)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Unfinished Sympathy
Unfinished Sympathy
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTQ6JjAEdGA" caption="Unfinished Sympathy"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5-VQOeQXco" caption="Unfinished Sympathy (Paul Oakenfold Remix)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Unfinished Sympathy
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOw8yywONmE" caption="Unfinished Sympathy (Paul Oakenfold Instrumental Remix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQX2To1uBC8" caption="Unfinished Sympathy (Instrumental)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8fEQQ1NWic" caption="Unfinished Sympathy (Nellee Hooper 7 Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0aOHx9zdp8" caption="Unfinished Sympathy (Nellee Hooper 12 Mix)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Safe From Harm
Safe From Harm
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpim0FdylFA" caption="Safe From Harm"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wCWD-kvydg" caption="Safe From Harm (Perfecto Mix)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Safe From Harm
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZlIVvPqHiE" caption="Safe From Harm (7 Version)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kB7WQmxiOs" caption="Safe From Harm (12 Version)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twy_TyZxx_c" caption="Safe From Harm (Just a Groove Dub)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6cucOtlm58" caption="Safe From Harm (Just a Dub)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for the Massive Attack E.P
Massive Attack E.P
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8JcM_FPfRo" caption="Hymn Of The Big Wheel"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqdOO45B5DM" caption="Hymn Of The Big Wheel (Nellee Hooper Mix)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Be Thankful For What You've Got
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4bNiSgS6MY" caption="Home Of The Whale"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0H71Ps_1jU" caption="Be Thankful (Paul Oakenfold Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq-5sgs9zj4" caption="Any Love (Larry Heard Mix)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Sly
Sly
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paz85EEJdXw" caption="Sly"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0PSlHAZgYs" caption="Sly (7 Stones Mix)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Sly
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ideyUbhv9Q" caption="Sly (7" Edit)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb-H3Vjs4WY" caption="Sly (Underdog Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqpeWlGEnaw" caption="Sly (Underdog Double Bass & Accapella)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poDFVLpTZvc" caption="Sly (Eternal Feedback Dub)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Protection
Protection
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g37q6mb6MY" caption="Protection"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE-Xn37A1sc" caption="Protection (The Eno Mix)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Protection
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCPPhbFgAs4" caption="Protection (Radiation For The Nation)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NELZdaZzhEg" caption="Protection (J Sw!ft Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn3qCwZQlfI" caption="Protection (Underdog's Angel Dust Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjcdd_74fn4" caption="Three (Dom T's House Of Fortune Mix) "]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Karmacoma
Karmacoma
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlmORqMze-0" caption="Karmacoma"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkGdXnvvjnk" caption="Karmacoma (Portishead Experience) "]
Click image to watch the promo video for Karmacoma
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4x_0FCeF84" caption="Karmacoma (The Napoli Trip)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMyaYGC0wdA" caption="Karmacoma (U.N.K.L.E Situation"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAe6QmZqZfg" caption="Karmacoma (Ventom Dub Special)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDe1T42hmUU" caption="Karmacoma (Bumper Ball Dub)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Risingson
Risingson
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gjnt4b4Sfs" caption="Risingson"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzSiL5MsPAQ" caption="Superpredators"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Risingson
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo9Gtnp4vMs" caption="Risingson (The Underdog Remix) "]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3kvp3prNLA" caption="Risingson (Otherside Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTP5dlbB6MA" caption="Risingson (Underworld Remix)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Teardrop
Teardrop
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAVUPu7URbc" caption="Teardrop"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4bAJ32bn3E" caption="Euro Zero Zero"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Teardrop
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM4gKr4hGlI" caption="Teardrop (Scream Team Remix) "]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKwC4pyxSYA" caption="Teardrop (Mad Professor Mazaruni Vocal Mix) "]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKZyH1-Daas" caption="Teardrop (Mad Professor Mazaruni Instrumental)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Angel
Angel
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNA-XfduSE4" caption="Angel"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7j-6efyTQM" caption="Angel (Blur Remix)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Angel
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M_8dtjI0g4" caption="Angel (Mad Professor Remix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTOB71KKEhg" caption="Group Four (Mad Professor Remix)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Inertia Creeps
Inertia Creeps
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE7xyn28wjg" caption="Inertia Creeps"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi5uWryYnaw" caption="Reflection"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Inertia Creeps
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAMbAV_9opE" caption="Inertia Creeps (Manic Street Preachers Version)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyOa651wqtA" caption="Inertia Creeps (Alpha Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOSl4bLv6b4" caption="Inertia Creeps (State Of Bengal Mix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6JGCjRMB98" caption="Back/Shecomes"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Special Cases
Special Cases
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51GLAqscWq4" caption="Special Cases"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uQOgEM6lNQ" caption="Special Cases (Akufen remix)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Special Cases
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApXrj_fNoKw" caption="Special Cases (Luomo's Casing) "]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghx9kX0HKkc" caption="I Against I"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Butterfly Caught
Butterfly Caught
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF0iUnzfMbM" caption="Butterfly Caught"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRBynyQZw_s" caption="Butterfly Caught (Paul Daley Remix)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Butterfly Caught
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q6MyzLTuPQ" caption="Butterfly Caught (Octave One Remix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul_DInxt7f0" caption="Butterfly Caught (RJD2 Remix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P420zxcA92U" caption="Butterfly Caught (Jagz Kooner Remix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ll-T2Hcnl0" caption="Butterfly Caught (Version Point Five)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for Live With Me
Live With Me
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXP4D_hCfqw" caption="Live With Me"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y7spPjJ9GE" caption="Live With Me (Alternative Version)"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Live With Me
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u6jcZw-SkU" caption="False Flags"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for the Splitting The Atom E.P
Splitting The Atom E.P
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7a_Zy7oBik" caption="Splitting The Atom"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS8J_Oky5cw" caption="Pray For Rain"]
Click image to watch the promo video for Splitting The Atom
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxIoYNj3B5I" caption="Bulletproof Love (Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid Remix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8yaVSLJVLA" caption="Psyche (Flash Treatment)"]
Click image to visit the Discography page for this single.
Atlas Air E.P
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kttZ3kwuJU" caption="Atlas Air (Jneiro Jarel's Lavender Remix)"]
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGUFs72dgA0" caption="Redlight (Clark Remix) "]
Click image to watch the promo video for Daydreaming.
[audiotube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D71pg2xcP2c" caption="Atlas Air (Goldsworthy Remix)"]
Following on from the first two EP's (Ritual Spirit and The Spoils) Massive Attack have released so far this year, we have two more brand new tracks on separate releases on the same day today. Both of these tracks can be previewed as one minute samples in this post.
In my time as a Massive Attack fan while loving their music of course, I've also been an avid collector of the band's physical releases. CD's vinyls, cassettes, promos etc... you name it, if its got the Massive Attack name on it I've probably either bought it or am still trying to find it! I've even dedicated a section of this site (Discography) to listing and detailing all of these said releases.
Massive Attack's first (and hopefully not only) release of 2016, gets underway today with the release of a new 4 track EP entitled Ritual Spirit. The EP was mainly written and produced by 3D and Euan Dickinson. The press release for the EP also intriguingly states that there will be a second EP out shortly that is more Daddy G centric, and with that to be followed by a new album later this year.