"Marxman was a four-piece hip-hop group formed in London in 1989. Together with groups like Massive Attack and Portishead, Marxman helped craft the "Bristol sound," a studied blend of hip-hop, Northern soul, and electronic music that formed the basis for what would become the trip-hop subgenre. The group's uncompromising political beliefs, augmented by their diverse racial makeup, were the source of much controversy during their brief reign in the British singles charts, leading their debut single, "Sad Affair," to be blacklisted from BBC radio for expressing what was perceived to be tacit support for the Irish Republican Army. Though their beliefs were more a product of their militant socialist ideals than conventional flag-waving patriotism, Marxman was one of the first hip-hop groups to incorporate traditional Irish folk in their music, counting Davy Spillane and Sinéad O'Connor among the musicians to contribute live performances to their debut record, 33 Revolutions per Minute."
- All Music Guide
