Massive Attack - Heligoland

This is it - The big one. If you can't tell already, I love Massive Attack. Mezzanine is a perfect record, it's one of the best records of the 90's, along with Blue Lines (an equally fantastic record). Well, Massive Attack are back after a 7 year gap between 100th Window and Heligoland. I had semi-high expectations of this album, even though I know they'll never reach the high points of Mezzanine again. What I found out was that Massive Attack still have the old magic, but can't use that magic on some underwhelming moments on the album.

The opening track is a familiar one - you may have heard it on their Splitting The Atom EP that was released last year (The said title track is also on here); 'Pray For Rain'. It starts the album off with a pounding drum beat and monotonic piano chords and sounds slightly bizarre. At first I hated it, but it's grown on me, but I do think a better track could have opened the album. 'Babel' comes charging in with its glitchy drum beat, but vocalist Martina Topley-Bird provides the track with much needed fluency. I'd describe it as a restricted Aphex Twin with vocals on top.

Then comes the first real highlight; 'Splitting The Atom'. A creepy slow-burner that recalls the days of Mezzanine. Horace Andy is back, in welcoming return to form. 'Girl I Love You' is dark, unsettling and bass-driven; just how I love them, but 'Psyche' is a nuisance because it ruins the flow of the album. Its repetitive spiraling riff is all very nice, but it goes absolutely nowhere, and the track is just a filler in my book. 'Flat of The Blade' has Guy Garvey singing on top of a largely loopy track (Elbow lead singer) and 'Rush Minute' is probably the worst track on record; even now, I can't remember how it goes, but it's a largely forgettable track. Meanwhile, Damon Albarn shines on 'Saturday Come Slow'. Anything that man touches seems to come out as gold!

Amidst all of this mediocrity (by their standard), there are two songs that stand out a mile; the amazing 'Paradise Circus', with Hope Sandoval providing vocals, and 'Atlas Air' - the synth-behemoth that closes the album on a real high. Like I said, 'Paradise Circus' is a touch of fragile beauty, Sandoval's vocals are incredibly beautiful. She reminds me of when Liz Fraser sang on 'Teardrop' and 'Group Four' on Mezzanine. She made those songs memorable in her unique way, and Cocteau Twins fans got a chance to hear exactly what she said without difficulty! The climax of 'Paradise...' is overwhelming. I just think it sounds so perfect; both chaotic and beautiful at the same time.

This largely dark album has some of the old Massive Attack spark, but it's not their best by any means. It's a good record, it has some of their best material to date ('Paradise Circus' is my favourite song of 2010 so far) but my main problem with this record is that it doesn't sound like an 'album', it sounds more like a compilation, and the vast amount of singers and collaborators just make it impossible for me to take this as a Massive Attack record. It's a shame, because while it's not brilliant, it's still worth a listen because on the whole, it's a pretty damn good album.

Rating: 3.5/5
Released 8th February