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Out today is the new Mark Stewart album, “The Politics Of Envy”.

Mark Stewart paying a visit to Massive Attack's Bristol studios back in 2009. Keith Levene of PIL is also featured in this photo.

That’s great and all, but why am I blogging about it. Well, apart from being Mark’s first album since 2008′s Edit (which was a great return to form for him) it also has on one track, a collaboration between himself and Massive’s Daddy G. The track’s called “Apocalypse Hotel” and you can hear a preview of it (and all the other tracks on the album) from 7Digital or ITunes. Outside the online samples, I have yet to hear the album, but will probably be picking it up in a few weeks and will offer my opinion of the G track then.

This is’nt the first time, that G has lent his deep, gravelly vocals to a non-Massive Attack track. The last time I can remember was back in 2001, on the Alpha album “The Impossible Thrill” – a track called “Wishes”. Good on a rainy day to listen to. If you have’nt heard it, or if it’s been awhile you can listen to it right below.

Makes me want to hear more G vocals on the next Massive attack album. Hopefully “Heartcliffe Star” or “All I Want” will eventually see some sort of release.

To finish off this post, I’ve included a quick quote from G about Mark Stewart and his contribution to the eponymous “Bristol Sound” over the years. He made this quote back in 2008, when “Mark Stewart and The Maffia” were due to play a set at Massive Attack’s Meltdown festival.

“We’ve known Mark since way back in the day in Bristol – I used to DJ for him at his concerts when I was a nobody (still am…) – and he’s a figure of crucial importance. He started out in The Pop Group, who were incredible, because they were a punk band but they flirted with the funk, and they were politically sussed, and then he hooked up with the On-U Sound crew. He knew a lot of the original punks, like the Clash, the Slits and Lydon, and he always brought a lot of reggae to the table. And his latest album, Edit is fantastic, too. “

- Daddy G (Meltdown 2008 Programme)

Next up, in terms of new Massive Attack material of some sort, is the Scarlett Johansson track which is eminent on the “Days Of Grace” soundtrack out digitally on the 3rd April. I’ll be definitely posting about that one, once I hear it.