Massive Attack, Photograph by Warren du Preez
No one was moving or dancing really, and very few people even had their phones out to film – perhaps out of guilt as they watched so many images of the world ending.
Massive Attack’s 2010 tour of Australia occupies a special place in the memory of anyone who attended one of the shows. So, expectations were high for the band’s return to the country 16 years later, especially as trip hop is undergoing a major resurgence in popularity.
Performing at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena with a full band and a trio of guest vocalists, the songs really fucking slammed when the light show calmed down enough for one to listen properly. Horace Andy and Elizabeth Fraser were both amazing throughout. Angel, featuring Andy, was a highlight. Deborah Miller’s performances in Safe From Harm and Unfinished Sympathy were also incredible.
Massive Attack teamed up with Adam Curtis for the visuals. I’m a minor devotee of Curtis’ politically-loaded, collagist documentaries, but it was too much Curtis, in my opinion. It felt unbalanced – maybe 70:30 in favour of Curtis when it should have been the other way around. In terms of entertainment, I love the world ending as much as the next person. More so even. But the whole thing started to feel like an arena-sized version of my Instagram feed.
There was less information in the 2010 gig, yet it was more impactful, and the balance between music and visuals felt right. That said, I imagine the 2026 gig was great for anyone who hasn’t been obsessing over the world ending for the past decade and a half, and anyone new to Curtis’ work.
And even though I occasionally felt like I was rewatching a doco I’d already seen, it was still really bloody good. Goosebumps level in the moments they got it right.
Massive Attack performed at Rod Laver Arena, on the stolen land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, on Tuesday 11 August. Review by Luke Costelloe.
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