Massive Attack

Protection

First released1994

Protection, Massive Attack's third studio album, was recorded primarily at Miles Copeland's Chateau de Marouatte in France during 1993-1994, alongside sessions at other locations including the band's native Bristol. The album was produced by Massive Attack themselves alongside producer Nick Davis, who had worked with them on previous projects, and featured engineering contributions from various technicians across multiple studios. The band employed a more expansive production approach than their previous work, incorporating live instrumentation alongside electronic elements and featuring guest vocalists including Horace Andy and Tracey Thorn. Technically, the production showcased Massive Attack's continued experimentation with sampling, layering, and sonic textures characteristic of the trip-hop genre they helped define. Released in November 1994, the album emerged during the peak of trip-hop's mainstream popularity and received critical acclaim for its darker, more atmospheric sound compared to their 1991 album Blue Lines.