Massive Attack - Heligoland

Last updated 11:12 18/02/2010

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Evolution is good and often essential, but the results have to work. Massive Attack failed to impress with their last effort, the tepid 100th Window, and Heligoland isn't much better.

Where did that famous depth and punch go? What was once gut-shaking now feels like spongy middle-aged spread. Just as opener Pray For Rain is building nicely, it breaks into a daft rock beat, but Girl I Love You is a more promising Mezzanine-style cut.

Martina Topley-Bird sounds bored on the drum'n'bass-lite Babel, but is better against the simple flamenco pulse of Psyche – the first sign of old glories, along with the dub and strings of Paradise Circus – after which things peter out with some blah guitar pop and emasculated electro.

Blur's Damon Albarn is passable on Saturday Come Slow, but he's a bit wordy. And that's the album's other problem – each contributor seems to be trying to prove him or herself as a lyricist, when this outfit's key strength has always been building musical edifices from simple elements.

Heligoland isn't a total loss, but the fire definitely seems to be going out.

Best tracks: Flat of the Blade, Paradise Circus.