CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE PERTH SHOW HERE.

One of the many pleasures associated with seeing Massive Attack live is the opportunity to witness the talents of an inevitably first-class ensemble of musicians and supporting vocalists. And so it was last Friday evening, as a capacity crowd flocked to the picturesque Kings Park on a warm and still Perth night.

Coming onstage just moments after 8:30pm, 3D steered the large backing band (complete with two drummers) through a dark and heavy opening track. It was a sign of what was to come over the course of the first half of the performance. Guest vocalist Martina Topley-Bird, who had earlier delighted the audience as the group’s support act, then joined the band onstage for a number before the dark, twisting bass lines of Risingson heralded the introduction of Daddy G, the remaining half of Massive Attack’s present nucleus.

Eschewing the lighter, jazz-soul sounds of the group’s early albums at first, Massive Attack concentrated initially on the dark and brooding sounds of more recent albums. The familiar wail of long-time collaborator Horace Andy was heard before long, as the distinctive Jamaican singer belted out Girl I Love You, one of the standout tracks from Massive Attack’s most recent offering, Heligoland.

Some minor balance issues, which became apparent at the beginning of the main set, were quickly rectified, which was just as well given the impeccable production quality of the group’s studio releases and the calibre of musicians. With those issues rectified, the band went about creating a powerful wall of sound, which allowed the intricacies of tracks such as Mezzanine and Angel to be fully recognised in a live setting.

Unsurprisingly, Teardrop proved to be a crowd favourite, with Topley-Bird delivering a beautifully nuanced and understated rendition of the track, which also featured some exemplary guitar work. 2003’s largely forgettable release, 100th Window, then received a brief reference before the arrival onstage of another guest vocalist indicated a shift in emphasis.

Striding out to the front of the stage to the guitar-driven opening of Safe From Harm, Deborah Miller lit up Kings Park with a dynamic and soulful performance, the extended rock version of track representing the main set’s high point. Eager to maintain the momentum created, the band quickly launched into Inertia Creeps, which received a similarly hard-hitting live rendition, ending the main set in style.

Of course, no contemporary Massive Attack performance would be complete without the group’s unique use of visuals. Created with the assistance of UVA (United Visual Artists), a vast LED screen provided an intriguing backdrop to the musical performance. Juxtaposing news, opinions and information of a trivial and a serious nature, the appearance of any local content (which included references to the West Coast Eagles, the Fremantle Dockers and the inimitable Ben Cousins) provoked a sizeable response from an enthralled audience.

Returning to the stage for a four-song encore, Splitting The Atom saw Daddy G and Horace Andy join forces and trade verses, before Miller’s mighty vocals again came to the fore during the ever-popular Unfinished Sympathy. Atlas Air then allowed 3D to return to the microphone, after which the group’s stellar sophomore album, Protection, received a belated look in.

In a surprising choice, Karmacoma was selected as the final song for the evening. While Daddy G, 3D and the band did their best to recreate the track live, in reality it proved difficult to emulate Tricky’s unique delivery. But credit to the guys for trying, and credit to all of the performers over the course of the evening.

It was, in short, another excellent performance by the boys from Bristol. Fabulous music in fabulous weather and a fabulous setting. A certain track off Blue Lines implores listeners to be thankful for what they’ve got, and last Friday night attendees at Kings Park pretty much had it all.