Spring Break
The Daily OrangeTrip hop revival
After years of obscurity, genre makes full-fledged return to the spotlight
By Dan Kaplan
Posted: 9/23/08, 12:39 AM EST Section: Decibel
With today's release of "Radio Retaliation," the new album from Washington, D.C.-based Thievery Corporation, audiences get not just an album, but also a continuation of the revival of trip hop.
The UK-based genre got its start in the early 90s, ripping from the emerging hip hop phenomenon and incorporating down-tempo electronic music.
Serving as ballads for cell phone commercials and anthems for eccentric early 20-somethings, the genre has maintained a cult following.
Here's a look at what some of its most prominent artists have been up to in its renaissance, and what we can expect from the trip hop rise in coming months.
Massive Attack
One of the original trip hop masters, Massive Attack continues to expand and redefine the genre.
Group members Robert Del Naja and Grantley Marshall combined elements of jazz, rock and soul on their 1991 debut "Blue Lines," effectively inventing the trip hop genre.
Later releases "Protection" and "Mezzanine" introduced electronic music into its sound, leading to successful singles like "Angel" and "Teardrop." Along the way, collaborations were made with vocalists from David Bowie to Madonna.
In 2003, Rolling Stone officially recognized the duo's achievements, placing both "Blue Lines" and "Mezzanine" on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all-time.
The group's fifth studio album, tentatively titled "Weather Underground," is set to release in 2009. Rumored vocal collaborators include Tom Waits, Mos Def and Damon Albarn.
Portishead
Portishead entered the realm of trip hop a bit later, but has been no less influential to the genre.
Keyboardist Geoff Barrow's love of hip hop and jazz provided the band's musical foundation, but perhaps the strongest asset was the presence of a permanent vocalist in Beth Gibbons.
Gibbons' silky, yet ominous croon provided the dark undertones that continue to drive the band's sound.
Portishead's debut album, "Dummy," spawned the hit single "Sour Times," and is widely considered one of the most influential albums of the 1990s. In 1995, it won the Mercury Music Prize for the year's best British album, beating out albums from PJ Harvey and Oasis.
The UK-based genre got its start in the early 90s, ripping from the emerging hip hop phenomenon and incorporating down-tempo electronic music.
Serving as ballads for cell phone commercials and anthems for eccentric early 20-somethings, the genre has maintained a cult following.
Here's a look at what some of its most prominent artists have been up to in its renaissance, and what we can expect from the trip hop rise in coming months.
Massive Attack
One of the original trip hop masters, Massive Attack continues to expand and redefine the genre.
Group members Robert Del Naja and Grantley Marshall combined elements of jazz, rock and soul on their 1991 debut "Blue Lines," effectively inventing the trip hop genre.
Later releases "Protection" and "Mezzanine" introduced electronic music into its sound, leading to successful singles like "Angel" and "Teardrop." Along the way, collaborations were made with vocalists from David Bowie to Madonna.
In 2003, Rolling Stone officially recognized the duo's achievements, placing both "Blue Lines" and "Mezzanine" on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all-time.
The group's fifth studio album, tentatively titled "Weather Underground," is set to release in 2009. Rumored vocal collaborators include Tom Waits, Mos Def and Damon Albarn.
Portishead
Portishead entered the realm of trip hop a bit later, but has been no less influential to the genre.
Keyboardist Geoff Barrow's love of hip hop and jazz provided the band's musical foundation, but perhaps the strongest asset was the presence of a permanent vocalist in Beth Gibbons.
Gibbons' silky, yet ominous croon provided the dark undertones that continue to drive the band's sound.
Portishead's debut album, "Dummy," spawned the hit single "Sour Times," and is widely considered one of the most influential albums of the 1990s. In 1995, it won the Mercury Music Prize for the year's best British album, beating out albums from PJ Harvey and Oasis.
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