Ah, trip hop. 'Tis a vile phrase, one of those terms coined by someone desperately trying to describe an indescribable sound. So what is trip-hop, and where did it come from? Well, it's kind of like hip-hop when it goes trick-or-treating for Halloween - a haunting, seductive fusion of jungle, reggae, and jazz, with hip-hop as its backbone. This distinctive sound arose from Bristol, England in the early '80s with the formation of the Wild Bunch, which went on to spawn the three most compelling Bristol artists: Massive Attack, Tricky, and Portishead.

The Wild Bunch was more like the Blob than a band. Future Massive Attackers Mushroom, Daddy G, Tricky, and soon-to-be super producer Nellee Hooper, among others, formed the group, which developed into a massive collective of DJs, MCs, and breakdancers. Bristol became a non-stop party as the Wild Bunch were enthusiastically encouraged to consume the live music scene. The Wild Bunch became Bristol.

Of course, all good things must come to and end, and in the late '80s, the Wild Bunch dissolved. However, those that emerged from the group became the heroes of the '90s Bristol sound. Smith and Mighty quickly became underground favorites and Nellee Hooper divided his time between Soul II Soul and numerous other projects. And then (dramatic pause) Massive Attack released Blue Lines in 1991.

Excuse me, you ask, just what exactly makes Massive Attack so great? Well, Massive Attack are the musical equivalent of Fonzie, and who doesn't just love Fonzie? He's incredibly tough and incredibly cool, and that leather jacket makes him awfully intimidating. But if Richie Cunningham ever needs a friend, Fonzie's there before you can say, "Heeyyyyy!" Massive Attack are exactly like that. They are unshakably cool; their rap style is laid-back with a dangerous undertone. Yet in the midst of that threatening vibe lies an extremely tender lyrical honesty, proving that Massive Attack are more than thugs with some top samples and a beat box. Miguel Rossi puts it well:

"Massive Attack are cool without being aloof. So many bands these days concentrate more on 'appearing' cool - they're all facade. Massive Attack have earned their coolness through honesty. The music they create is a reflection of who they are as genuine artists."

It's a point made most clearly on their spectacular single, "Unfinished Sympathy", from Blue Lines.

When one of Massive Attack's rappers decided to try out solo recording in 1993, a whole generation of listeners was soon to be plagued by nightmares and insomnia. Yes, the culprit was Tricky, that skinny asthmatic with the raspy voice, big mouth and equally big psychological and emotional complexes. With debut single "Aftermath" and 1994's Maxinquaye LP, Tricky introduced a new sound to make your skin crawl. It's not that he's irritating - it's just the way the he easily delivers self-destructive lyrics with such calm relish. Here's what Ink Blot reader Simon Upton thinks:

"Tricky's power as an artist lies in his ability to distance himself from his paranoia and turn it into something he can master...and that can be unsettling for some people."


Luckily though, Tricky tries to distract you from his lyrics with mesmerizing melodies, gorgeous voices, his special brew of tribal beats and every instrument he can find to create sensuous and eerie effects. And what's even greater about Tricky is that no two of his albums, or songs, for that matter, sound remotely alike. He constantly pushes himself to produce mind-blowing music that you've never heard before, and even though I'm afraid of him, I humbly thank Tricky for being an innovative workaholic.

And so the Wild Bunch begat Massive Attack, and Massive Attack begat Tricky, and Massive Attack's engineer, Geoff Barrow, begat Portishead. What Portishead lack in raw hip-hop ferocity, they make up for in sophistication and irresistible jazz ambience. Besides, Portishead don't need to sound tough; they have singer Beth Gibbons to make you feel bad about yourself. With a single note, she's able to evoke every painful memory you have; but if ever there was a sweeter, more melancholy voice, I have yet to hear it. Raquel Cabellero agrees:

"Portishead just wouldn't be the same without Beth Gibbons. The darkness of their music would drag you down without her heavenly voice. She embraces pain tenderly and seeks comfort from it, and longs to comfort you as well."

Portishead are undeniably dark and alluring, and the way they set their hearts on their sleeves makes them unique. When Portishead invite you to share in their heartache, you can't resist; no one could ever walk away from something that sounds as rare and vulnerable as Portishead.

The sound created by Massive Attack, Tricky, and Portishead has inspired a whole new generation, but there's just something missing that leaves these new bands sounding like Herman's Hermits to the Bristol Big Three's Stones/Beatles/Who. These originators worked to craft their own sound, and all too often, those they inspired come off sounding like imitators. Massive Attack, Tricky, and Portishead all share a raw honesty; how genuine can you be if your music is created in the image of someone else? It's hard to tell at this point if the Bristol sound will be around as long as Mick and Keif, but if it is, it will definitely be Massive Attack, Tricky, and Portishead risking breaking their hips for the faithful.

Check out our Massive Attack Mothership!
Read these Massive Attack reviews: Blue Lines, Protection, No Protection, Mezzanine

Check out our Tricky Mothership!
Check out our Tricky Photo Gallery
Read these Tricky reviews: Nearly God, Pre-Millenium Tension, Maxinquaye, Angels With Dirty Faces, Juxtapose

Check out our Portishead Mothership!
Read these Portishead reviews: Portishead, Dummy, PNYC


Check out these other "Why We Love..." articles:
Elvis Costello, Beastie Boys, David Bowie, Beth Orton, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, Björk, Liz Phair, G. Love