Massive Attack delayed

No hurry but 3D says the new album is nearly done

24 June 2008 - They just graced audiences as headliners of Meltdown Festival on London’s Southbank (22 June) and whilst there, the trip-hop collective Massive Attack told 6 Music that they have nearly completed their new record.

It has been five years since their last studio album 100th Window, but 3D - real name Robert Del Naja, explained that they are in no hurry.

"We’ve done that all the time," he explained, "three years, four years, five years.  We’ve never been in a hurry, that's the way we do it and I think that may have something to do with the fact that we’re still around - because obviously we were never meant to hit the star and burn out quickly, it was always meant to be a slow sort of process."

"I like it like that.  Why be in a hurry man?  You develop as you get older and more mature, and as you change and move through life and experience stuff.

"Hopefully we’d like to think that that comes out in the music - so do it in your own time is my motto."

"I like it like that, why be in a hurry man... do it in your own time is my motto."
3D

Giving Nothing Away

The album may well be recorded but the Massive attack mastermind can give no clues as to how the record sounds.

"To be honest, until its mixed I can’t even tell you that,” he continued: "And the mix will probably be one of those long, drawn out processes which will probably see us scrap at least half our recording budget in two weeks as we do it all over again!"

Political Awareness

3D has also been busy, appearing alongside Damon Albarn as part of political campaigns and demonstrations.

He told 6 Music that his aim is not to overload his music with his political beliefs, but it is in there somewhere.

He explains: "We bury it a little because I think we’ve always been a band about abstractions in the way we compose and the way we collaborate with people. 

"You’re getting a lot of different opinions appearing everywhere on the record - different views and different personalities.

"It’s not like one bunch of people who all stand there shaking their fists, you know. Everybody’s got a different angle and different feeling about a situation."

3D went on to say that it is all of his collaborators’ opinions which contribute: "We’re very aware that the whole thing is a collage of people and not one person’s complete vision of it, but we will always try and use our situations to bring political strength to what we do."

For 3D, he believes getting a message across is a fundamental part of his role as a musician: "It’s just a natural condition of it all really. I think that’s part of the deal I signed, if you’re gonna go out and there and be able to get on stage, do all this and play music, then that’s one of the things you’re meant to do."

Hear the Music Week's full interview with Massive Attack by downloading the show's weekly podcast.
 
The band are headlining Glastonbury's Other Stage this Saturday 28 June and you can check out the rest of our BBC festival coverage here.

Georgie Rogers