Massive Attack, Manchester Arena. 29th January 2019

Massive Attack’s Mezzanine is a dark and menacing album. Interpreted live it’s absolutely brutal. It’s loud, nightmarish and if I’m honest not altogether enjoyable. Not what I expected for an album I adore. Listening at home you control your surroundings and create your own narrative, but here it’s an experience akin to being bludgeoned with a blunt instrument, albeit one that sounds brilliant. That all seems horrific I’m sure, yet there’s something quite incredible about what I’ve just witnessed and although bleak I think this might increase my love of Mezzanine and this show will stay with me for some time.