Birth a musical genre. get your own record label. That seems to be the formula

these days, at least for Bristol, England's Massive Attack who have inked a

deal with Virgin UK to distribute their new label, Melankolic. The venture,

which will be distributed by Caroline in the U.S., will be run by MA's manager,

with the three members "having direct input into all aspects of the label...and

a significant part in running the company, particularly in respect to A&R and

design," according to a press release.

The first release from the new

label will be a 14-track 'best of' collection from Kingston, Jamaica reggae

artist Horace Andy entitled Skylarking Volume 1 (March 25). Although it

might seem an odd match, Andy, who got his start in the mid-'60s working at

Kingston's renowned Studio 1, the "Motown of Jamaica," is a long-time

collaborator of the band's, having worked with them on both Blue Lines

and Protection, in addition to sessions with Neneh Cherry, Sly & Robbie

and the Mad Professor, who, of course, worked with Massive Attack on the album

Massive Attack v Mad Professor.

The next Malankolic release will be

from composer Craig Armstrong, who did many of the ornate string arrangements

on Protection and who has also worked with U2, Suede and Madonna and is

featured on the million-selling Romeo and Juliet soundtrack. That still

untitled release is slated for early summer release and is described as a

"modern orchestral album featuring arrangements and new work by Craig himself."

Then, in the early fall, will be the debut from a new Bristol band called

Ariel, whose sound is reportedly "the next step in the evolution of the now

infamous 'Bristol sound.'

As for Massive Attack themselves, they are

currently working on a new album that is slated for an early fall

release.