Info â†’ Reflection    

• Development
• Additional Info
• Live Appearances
• Variations/Remixes
• Notable Quotes
• Lyrics
• External Links

At the midpoint during the 1998 tour, there was a seven week rest period, were Massive Attack could recuperate for the second leg of the 1998 tour. While Daddy G and Mushroom rested, 3D did not spend too much time on his laurels and quickly got back, after a week’s break into the Massive Attack studios in Bristol, UK and along with Neil Davidge worked on a song that had been brewing in mind for sometime now during the first half of the 1998 tour. This song would end up becoming Reflection, a post-punk inspired track with a vicious beat with vocals from 3D, making it somewhat of a accompanying track to the other 3D sung song on Mezzanine, which wasInertia Creeps (which it would become packaged as a b-side to).

In the same period of time, 3D and Neil Davidge would also accomplish remix assignments on tracks for the Manic Street Preachers (If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next) and U.N.K.L.E (Rabbit In Your Headlights).

Reflection marks an important milestone in some way for Massive Attack. It was the first Massive Attack song completed that did not feature Daddy G nor Mushroom in any capacity, being the brainchild of 3D with help from Neil Davidge, who had gotten his first co-writer credit on a Massive Attack song. Before this he had only received production and arranging credits officially on Massive Attack releases. It was this working partnership of 3D and Neil Davidge who would go on to be the creative force behind the band for the majority of the bands material for the next decade nearly with the soon to be departure of Mushroom and the near absence in the studio of Daddy G for the next several years.

Jon Harris who had played bass guitar on the albumMezzanine received a co-writer credit also on the song for performing the same function of providing bass guitar as he did on the album, on Reflection. This would mark his last input into Massive Attack material, as he left to concentrate his talents on his own band Sunna, who were signed to Massive Attack’s own private record label Melankolic.

Reflection was played at a few dates during the second half of the 1998 tour, making it a very rare live performance. The first time it was played was at the Valby Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark on 2nd November 1998. It has never been played since the 1998 tour.

Instrumental – An instrumental mix of Reflection, exactly the same as the original mix sans vocals. Included only on the vinyl release of Inertia Creeps, both retail and promo.

3D on Reflection – “It’s just me and Neil [Davidge]. It’s a quick track. It’s almost a sister track to Inertia Creeps. It’s very simple, but its got a nice vibe to it. It’s like Public Image if I was to compare it, which I shouldn’t do really.” [Innerviews.org – September 1998]

Take me where the tides start. And I can pull you into me. You’re pressure crushing gravity. Your corona is reaching consequences. Misting all my lenses. It all comes back to me (back to me). Broken down folio. Collects like dust around my head. And lightly rings and clings. Can’t be shaken off the last. Like characters we lesser mass. You are a constellation not to be assumed. There’s nothing i can save for this. No fold it up into a fist. No violent string. (Comes back to me). No flight-path. (Comes back to me). No cream. (Comes back to me). Comes back to me. Comes back to me. It all comes back to me. It all comes back to me. Comes back to me. (x3) No use to me. Infrared to find you.I fly in to remind you. I burnt my universe for you. Attracted to opposing poles. And anti-matter protocols. In seconds flat you’re history. No use to me, no mystery. No use to me, no use to me. No use to me.No use to me, no use to me. Comes back to me. No use to me. Back to me

•  About Page For Co-Writer Jon Harris From The Sunna Official Website
• Belgium 1998 Live Performance