Massive Attack - Teardrop (1998/2025)

The Teardrop single from Massive Attack's Mezzanine is a beautiful blend of dub reggae soundscapes and hip-hop. The LP version of "Teardrop" is an impressive track, but the varied treatments of it that follow are of the greatest interest. Primal Scream gives "Teardrop" a barely recognizable noisy soundscape treatment betraying the commercially viable LP version at every turn. They drop the heartbeat drum track and let the mind wander with a collage of sound. Mad Professor doesn't go as far away from the groove of the LP version but gives the track two different dub treatments. The vocal mix is more cluttered and more aggressive compared to the instrumental that is airy and relaxed. Both are locked solidly in the groove, taking the LP version in entirely new directions. Surprisingly, Mad Professor's dub treatments on this single outshine almost any track on the Massive Attack vs. Mad Professor album. The single is capped off with a track that was not included on Mezzanine. "Euro Zero Zero" has Massive Attack embracing their hip-hop influences once again and creating a low-end masterpiece. The Teardrop single wastes no time and is solid throughout.

© Matt Whalley /TiVo