Legendary electronic producer Davidge (a.k.a Neil Davidge) is best known for his production and songwriting work with electronic music group Massive Attack. Davidge was responsible for the trip-hop masterpiece Mezzanine, Massive Attack’s magnum opus and a contender for one of the most influential electronic albums ever.
Though Massive Attack has been dormant for four years, Davidge has been busy during that time. He composed the score for Halo 4 and has lent his composition skills to the big screen, with credits including the upcoming James Franco/Kate Hudson movie Good People, and Monsters: Dark Continent. Davidge’s work has spanned musicians ranging from David Bowie to Snoop Dog. To cap off his run, he recently released his first solo album, Slo Light. One of the strongest songs in the collection is the recently released single, “Riot Pictures,” featuring the legendary British songstress Sandie Shaw.
Though not widely known in the U.S., Shaw is, in the words of Jools Holland, “one of the great icons in British popular music.” You know that early ’80s synth pop hit from Naked Eyes, “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me”? Shaw took the Burt Bacharach-penned tune to #1 in Britain in 1964. She became a symbol of London in the Swinging Sixties and a sought-after vocalist and performer.
She announced her retirement in 2013, but as with so many musicians who try to hang up their hats, the lure of performing proved too much. She then teamed up with Davidge for “Riot Pictures,” which showcases her vocal chops in a new sonic setting, moving on from the musical templates of her past.
“Riot Pictures” opens with a discordant cascade of keys and violins, before dropping into a throwback trip-hop beat. Shaw’s voice floats in over the music, with an ethereal quality and a maturity that a younger vocalist would be hard-pressed to imitate.
The song has a definite Bond-theme feel to it, with the mix of violins, trip-hop backbeat, and a melody line that continues to soar as the song progresses. There is no definable chorus, but that doesn’t mean the song is without a hook. The song is also a mini Massive Attack reunion of sorts with the lyrics penned by Robert “3D” Del Naja.
“Riot Pictures” is one of those unique multi-decadal musical collaborations that actually works as a real song, rather than as a one-off novelty item. And it is one of the better electronic singles of the year.
