Just a quick news roundup on all that’s been happening with Massive Attack within the last week or so…

First of all, the “Splitting The Atom” EP due for release on 5th October) is now available for streaming/preview purposes on the site’s jukebox widget. There appears to be no plans at the moment for a physical CD release of the EP, but it will be available either on ITunes or as a limited edition vinyl boxset which will be exclusively available from The Vinyl Factory.
Secondly, the first date of Massive Attack’s European tour starts tonight, as they headline Bestival at the Isle Of Wight, UK. The expectation is that the band will debut material from the EP along with previews of LP5’s album tracks. Following Bestival, Massive Attack will formally start their UK tour at Brixton Academy in London, which will leave them touring until the end of November. They have kept details of the tour (such as setlist) under wraps, but UVA like in previous years are involved once again in the visual stage element of the show.
The official Massive Attack website is expected very soon to be radically updated, with a focus on promoting the new EP/LP/tour etc… Even more exciting is the prospect that the band have promised to give away for free, b-sides and outtakes from the upcoming album (due in January/February 2010) at a rate of roughly 3 tracks per month, which should make waiting until next year alot more managaeable for fans.
And lastly, within the last week or so, Massive Attack have also been busy promoting and giving out interviews to various websites/newspapers on what their plans are for the release of LP5, the tour etc… Here are all the interviews so far, collected together for you to read:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/sep/10/massive-attack-interview
http://www.spin.com/articles/qa-massive-attack
http://www.spinner.com/2009/09/08/massive-attack-psyche-song-premiere
http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/massive_attack
http://www.massiveattack.ie/community/forum/showthread.php?t=626&page=3 (French to English translation of Les Inrocks Interview)

To reiterate what is known about LP5 – It has yet to be mixed completely but is still on course for a January release next year. Its assumed though that it will need to be mixed and mastered very shortly as the tour is starting in Mexico on 5th September. It still has no title either. “Weather Underground” has only ever been a working title for the album. The tracks featured on the new EP will likely feature on the new album (presumably the non-remixed versions of Psyche and Bulletproof Love).

And of course, don’t forget that Zane Lowe will play Splitting the Atom tonight on BBC Radio 1!

Damon Albarn (Blur)
Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star)
Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio)
Martina Topley Bird (Former Tricky Singer)

Of course, in addition to the aforementioned guest vocalists, 3D, Horace Andy and (in a welcome return to all fans) Daddy G will also feature vocally on the new album, which is still yet to be named.
Guy Garvey, the lead singer of current indie favourites Elbow, has also divulged a few details on his contributions to the new album in an interview just published today by BBC6 Music. The interview reveals that even though he will not apparently be a vocalist on the album, he has helped out in the song-writing department on a total of six or so songs, one of which is Red Light (debuted live last year) which is destined to be sung by Martina Topley Bird. In the interview he describes what a pleasure it was to write Red Light for Martina. [Quote] – “It’s a dream come true to have Martina singing my words on a Massive Attack song” [BBC6 Music - July 2009]
Finally, in yet more news about the upcoming album; what exactly is the intended release date for it? An official announcement is due soon from the band on this, but speculation has it (again being confirmed by Ex), that the album will not be out in time for the Autumn tour later this year and may be ultimately pushed back to early next year. What appears to be happening though is that some sort of preview single/EP will be released in September to coincide with the tour. The band are also looking into some sort of unique internet release of some of the outtakes/b-sides from the new album which would be made free to download, in order to serve as a further preview for the album. Again, official word is due from the band on all this very soon, so keep an eye on the official site over the next few weeks, for confirmation on all this.

In unfortunate news that broke today, it was announced that Jonny Dollar, the co-producer of Massive Attack’s seminal classic debut, Blue Lines had passed away. Jonny Dollar’s (real name, Jonny Sharp) died at the Royal Marsden hospital in London, UK on 29th May this year at the tragic age of only 45. He had been diagnoised with cancer last August. As well as producing Blue Lines, Dollar also worked with Neneh Cherry and produced Gabrielle’s three-times platinum 1999 album ‘Rise’. Quote – Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, president of Polydor, spoke about Dollar’s death. – “I knew Jonny from his work with Neneh Cherry, he co-produced a lot of her work with Cameron McVey and Massive Attack. He also produced Blue Lines. These records had a profound effect on me, Buffalo Stance and Man Child when I was about 14 and when I first heard Unfinished Sympathy like everybody else who heard it, I don’t think I could really believe what I was hearing.” [Musicweek - June 2009]
What makes this even more tragic is that Jonny leaves behind a wife and four children. May he rest in peace and our thoughts go to his family and friends.