With their
Blue Lines album,
Massive Attack originated trip-hop, one of the most influential sounds of the '90s, which combined the rhythmic urgency of hip-hop, the freewheeling samples of the DJ's craft, soul-rich melodies, and dub-reggae’s intoxicating bottom end. A series of singles led to the 1991 release of Blue Lines, which featured several vocalists--including Shara
Nelson, Tricky, and reggae singer Horace Andy--and promoted a slow, hypnotic beat that ran counter to the hyped-up dance rhythms of techno. This album was a fresh departure for dance music and as such was a revolutionary force on par with
The Velvet Underground and Nico.