On Monday July 15th 2024, the Montreux Jazz Festival witnessed a groundbreaking evening of electronic music, with spectacular performances by the legendary Massive Attack and the iconic French duo Air.
Montreux Jazz Festival is renowned for its iconic double bills, and this evening was no different with two giants of electronic music performing on the festival’s incredible new Lake Stage, which has been constructed this year on the surface of Lake Geneva itself, providing a stunning backdrop for an epic evening.
Massive Attack: Trip-Hop Pioneers Take to Montreux
After a significant hiatus following their 2016 EP Ritual Spirit, Massive Attack released three tracks on YouTube in 2020, reaffirming their commitment to socially conscious and topical themes. Their return to Montreux was eagerly anticipated, and they did not disappoint, mesmerizing the audience with their evocative soundscapes.
Taking in classic tracks from beloved albums like Mezzanine, Blue Lines and Heligoland, there was a feast for old and new fans alike to get their teeth into. Previous collaborators and Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers cranked up the energy levels as they joined them for a string of songs in the middle of the show.
Backed by politically charged film content, the show challenged the audience to question the world around them and the geopolitical landscape that has led to modern global conflicts. Addressing the crowd in a mixture of French and English, Robert ‘3D’ Del Naja dedicated “Safe From Harm” as a protest song for the Palestinian people.
Triumphantly leaving the stage after the legendary “Unfinished Sympathy”, the group returned for an encore that featured “Teardrop”, “Group 4”, and a reworking of Gigi D’Agostino’s “In My Mind”.
Air: Celebrating 25 Years of Moon Safari
Preceding Massive Attack on this landmark evening was Air, celebrating the 25th anniversary of their seminal album Moon Safari. Released on January 16th, 1998, Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel’s masterpiece quickly became a touchstone in the global electronic music scene. With its blend of vintage keyboards, synthesized vocals, and organic-electronic fusion, Moon Safari remains a timeless classic. Marking its anniversary, Air’s current tour sees them playing the album in its entirety, much to the delight of their fans as the sun set behind them on the lake stage.
This historic double-bill will be well remembered in the festival’s history. Continuing until 20th July, there are many more to come from this year’s programme including Raye and Janelle Monáe, Michael Kiwanuka and Jungle, and Soft Cell and Duran Duran.
