Massive Attack and Tom Waits have shared a new collaborative single entitled “Boots on the Ground,” which marks the first new Massive Attack music distributed under what they’re referring to as a Spotify exemption policy. It’s also Waits’ first original music in 15 years and the first new tune from Massive Attack in six years.
The protest anthem comes with a spoken-word B-side from Waits entitled “The Fly,” as well as additional spoken-word reflections from the Egyptian-Canadian-American writer Omar El Akkad that will arrive tomorrow, April 17.
“It’s a career honor to collaborate with an artist of the magnitude, originality and integrity of Tom, but this track is arriving in an atmosphere of chaos,” Massive Attack shared of the collaboration. “Across the western hemisphere, state authoritarianism and the militarization of police forces are fusing again with neo-fascist politics. Seen within the American emergency, at home and overseas, this track contains pulses of callous impulse & abandoned mind.”
Added Waits: “One day many years ago I accepted an invitation from Massive Attack to collaborate. Way back then, we sent them ‘Boots on the Ground.’ Their long release delay never worried me. Today, as in all of mankind’s yesterdays, guarantees this song will never go out of style. Man’s fiasco folly is a feast for the flies. Hence, the B side of Massive Attack’s upcoming 12 inch ‘The Fly’ features my appreciation for the winged nuisance.”
The single comes with a film made by Massive Attack in collaboration with the photographer thefinaleye. You can pre-order the 12-inch of “Boots on the Ground” here, and check out the video below.
