CD review: Heligoland - Massive Attack

HARD ACT TO FOLLOW: Heligoland is a reminder of just how original Massive Attack have been.

Related Links

Massive Attack announce NZ show

Relevant offers

Music

Del Rey 'doesn't deserve haters' Grammy spotlight shines on Adele O'Connor tempted to bare too much The Great NZ Love Song Entertainment Quiz 10/2 Roxette's Auckland concert cancelled The Exponents join class of '81 Axed musicians to protest at Grammys The Myele Manzanza story Lady Gaga returns to NZ

Many have tried but few have been successful at copying Massive Attack's brooding intensity and woozy atmospherics. The British dub duo even tried copying themselves on 2003's haphazard and underwhelming record 100th Window.

So it's good to see Massive Attack doing what they do best on Heligoland -  Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall's long-delayed fifth album that feels a lot more like those Massive Attack classics Blue Lines (1991) and Mezzanine (1998).

It's dark and moody, and occasionally goes to places other albums haven't yet been, like the trippy psychedelic outro on album opener Pray For Rain, featuring TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe, and the awkward jazz elements that infuse the off-kilter rumblings of Girl I Love You.

There are plenty of star guest turns, from Elbow front man Guy Garvey's stunning Flat of the Blade to Hope Sandival's enchanting Paradise Circus, and a mopy Damon Albarn on Saturday Come Slow, but, like those early albums, the best tracks - Splitting the Atom and Atlas Air - feature Del Naja's monotonous ramblings.

It serves as a reminder of just how good Massive Attack have been in the past. Whether Heligoland is too little too late to carve out much of a future remains to be seen.

* What do you think of Heligoland? Post your comments below.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First

Viyasan   #5   10:20 am Feb 10 2010

To be honest I thought it was okay.but that was probably only because i was automatically starting to compare it to mezzanine which easily makes my top 10 albums of all time.Its definatly worth a listen, and in my opinion if i give it time could be better record than 100th window.we will see.but glad to here from them, its been too long :)

spy   #4   09:37 am Feb 10 2010

For me this album should get 4.5 stars. It's brilliant album!!

Chris Philpott   #3   07:55 pm Feb 08 2010

"Oh noes, peeples disagrees with me on the internetz!"

Pretty good review Chris. I wouldn't disagree with too much there, though I'd maybe give it another half a point - I think its a better record than 100th Window.

guy   #2   02:57 pm Feb 08 2010

@ Gareth #1 - dude, if you don't like this review then don't go near sweetman's blog! you may end up doin something you'll later regret.

Gareth   #1   01:04 pm Feb 08 2010

I don't agree with the reviewer this should get 5 stars! Awesome album, probably the best album since the last decade! I'm going to see them in Auckland too so that will be an cool show. I have seen them before back at Dublin in 2003 when they were touring the 100th Window album and they were brilliant! Live show is well worth my travel up to Auckland from Wellington!! Bring on the 25th March!!!