Martina Topley-Bird & Robert '3D' Del Naja Collaborate For Limited Edition Vinyl Release Featuring 3D’s Hand Printed Artwork
MTB and RDN have collaborated on a limited vinyl run of MTB’s previously digital only ‘Pure Heart' EP release. The 4 track EP, including a vinyl exclusive track “Collide”, is now presented with 3D’s artwork, released via his BattleBox imprint.
Each 12” sleeve will be individually hand silk screen printed using 2 colours on 350gsm reverse board to create a collectable and unique piece of art.
Martina Topley-Bird’s creative relationship with Robert Del Naja, the artist also known as 3D, can be documented through a long history with Massive Attack and rooted in those very first visits to Bristol that lead to Topley-Bird appearing on Massive Attack’s 2010 album Heligoland with tracks "Psyche" and "Babel".
On the significance of the collaborative project and artwork release, Del Naja;
"We are proud to be releasing this special 12 inch MTB X RDN edition of the Pure Heart ep on the Battle Box label. It's a symbolic way to celebrate our first musical collaboration since Heligoland"
The three songs from the digital release, the plaintive “Pure Heart”, the menacing “Hunt” and the string adorned “Rain” are now joined by forthcoming vinyl-only track “Collide”.
"In the process of finishing the album I realised that these songs felt like a complete body of work and served as a kind of preview into the journey of the heart and soul of the album, so I thought it would make sense to group them together as an EP. 3D’s artwork on this vinyl release makes it feel complete and right"
The forthcoming 12-track album, set for release 10th September, is Topley Bird’s fourth, long awaited studio album and her very first self-produced and curated piece of work to date.
“Forever I Wait” leans on a multitude of tense sounds, dubby atmospherics and natural instrumentation to demand the listeners attention, featuring carefully selected and tailored supporting arrangements from a handful of collaborators including Robert del Naja (Massive Attack), Rich Morel (Deep Dish) Christoffer Berg (Fever Ray and Depeche Mode) and Benjamin Boeldt (Adventure).
Martina’s background:
After appearing as a featured artist on Maxinquaye (1995) and full Tricky band member on subsequent albums Pre-Millennium Tension (1996) and Angels with Dirty Faces (1998.) Martina Topley Bird released the understated Mercury Prize nominee debut “Quixotic” in 2003 followed by a five-year gap when she enlisted the help of Danger Mouse on sophomore album “The Blue God”.
In 2010, Topley-Bird appeared on Massive Attack’s album Heligoland on tracks "Psyche" and "Babel" and toured with Massive Attack from 2009 to 2016. Her third album, “Some Place Simple” was released in July 2010 in which the minimalism and intimacy of her songs subtly captivated her listeners.
About BattleBox:
BattleBox is Robert Del Naja’s limited edition vinyl imprint which has released collaborations with Guy Garvey, Tunde Adebimpe, Jupiter, James Massiah and Noel Gallagher.
Martina Topley-Bird – “Pure Heart EP” is out now digitally.
Martina Topley-Bird – “Forever I Wait” is released 10th September.
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