Blue Lines
Released: 1991

Blue Lines

by Massive Attack

The 95th greatest album of all time

Blue Lines, Massive Attack's 1991 debut, blends hip hop rhythms, dub production, soul-influenced vocals and atmospheric electronic textures to help define the trip hop sound. The record pairs slow, heavy grooves and deep bass with lush string arrangements and distinctive guest vocals from Shara Nelson and Horace Andy, producing moody, cinematic tracks such as Unfinished Sympathy and Safe From Harm. Its fusion of sampled and live instrumentation, downtempo pacing, and a shadowy, club-informed aesthetic made it a touchstone for the Bristol scene and later alternative electronic music.

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