Blue Lines

by Roy Luckett
June 24th, 2008

It’s not everyday that a recording brings something truly unique to the musical landscape. Blue Lines is that type of recording, as it gave birth to a new slow-burning, heavily atmospheric strain of dance music termed “trip-hop.” This collective of multiple artists from Bristol, England, effectively fused classic soul, dub reggae, hip-hop, and even classical strings into something that was designed more for the head than the feet, thereby capturing the late 80s/early 90s urban experience of isolation and introspection. Do yourself a favor and listen to the majestic “Unfinished Sympathy,” with its soulful vocals over kinetic beats and a classical arrangement.