Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

6.

Massive Attack – Blue Lines

Did I put Tricky’s Maxinquaye in there? No. It was a close toss up between Tricky and Massive Attack. I almost didn’t want to put Blue Lines in, because it seems so bloody obvious – but at the same time, I think it’s okay to be obvious every now and then [laughs].

This just captures a mood. You can really just imagine a ganja filled basement room in [Bristol district] St Pauls, with the heavy atmosphere and sense of purposeful dread that came from that album. I loved it. It was something that just sonically spoke to me. I didn’t really know a lot about Bristol before I came here. I visited briefly when I was seventeen, and really liked the place, but my knowledge of Bristol was essentially just based on the music I liked that came from there. [laughs] I definitely always had an affinity for that side of things. I didn’t realise I’d actually end up becoming a Bristol associated musician. But in a way it was a path that was always sort of lying there, from the influences of those albums.

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: Lord Spikeheart, Tom Ravenscroft
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