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Massive Attack’s ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ deconstructed in brand new masterclass: Watch

Point Blank music school's Ski Oakenfull breaks down the rebuilds the legendary trip hop ballad...

In their latest deconstruction, Point Blank Music School's lead course developer Ski Oakenfull gives an extensive, in-depth history into Bristol electronic act Massive Attack’s groundbreaking ballad ‘Unfinished Sympathy’.

First released in 1991 on Massive Attack's debut LP 'Blue Lines', every sample used in the track is presented and examined in this new video along with the tech utilised while Oakenfull rebuilds it all from scratch at Ableton Loop, Berlin. Samples include a drum break from ‘Parade Strut’ by JJ Johnson while the unmistakable “Hey Hey Hey Hey” refrain is lifted from ‘Planetary Citizen’ by John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Shara Nelson's vocals were re-recorded for this reconstruction by Valerie Etienne of Jamiroquai. Watch the full masterclass below. 

More Point Blank masterclasses include a deconstruction of Calvin Harris' 'Slide feat. Frank Ocean' and a talk by Grammy award winning producer Todd Edwards.