Heligoland [VINYL] [Deluxe Edition]

 

 

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Massive Attack.

Just the name itself suggests waves of dubby synths, deep basslines, martial yet half-asleep beats and croony vocals. Sure, they helped define a genre for the 90s, that lame "trip hop" tag so many claimed to be part of and so few deserved, producing much groundbreaking music, especially in the shape of their debut "Blue Lines" (1991), which helped set DJ culture into the mainstream, and "Mezzanine" (1998) that added heavy, howling guitars in the mix to a mostly stunning effect.

So, what's to expect from this, their 5th album proper in a mere twenty years career ? Well, as many other reviewers noted, a bit of the same and something different at once. First striking thing is the actual sound of the whole record. Some pointed out a supposed return to the coldness of "Mezzanine", but that's not at all what I hear here. If "100th Window", their 2003 effort, was a letdown to many fans, being more of a 3D solo effort than a collective work, in fact it furthered the post-punk hint "Mezzanine" suggested, replacing the loud guitar shriek with icy electro beats. The results were, to say the least, mixed, but at least it was still seeking forward, sonically speaking. On "Heligoland", by contrast, everything is understated, from the drum patterns to the shy basslines, from a quiet organ part in the background to voices you feel are more dreamt than actually performed. That's a record that almost begs forgiveness for existing at all, rather than punching its pride in your face, which is why it probably won't get among die-hard fans (let alone the mainstream) the same praise as their giddy peaks mentioned above.

Take, for example, languid opener "Pray For Rain", magnified by TV On The Radio's Tunde Adebimpe ; on previous records, songs like "Safe From Harm", "Angel", "Protection" and even "Future Proof" were kicking proceedings in panache and style, but here you get a moody lament over a tense rolling drumbeat that keeps things tight but never to the point of explosion. If there's a revolution this time around (and as far as I know nobody pointed this out yet), that's precisely the fact that, for once, Massive Attack seem to have opted for a rather organic simplicity instead of creating the beat monster everyone expected (especially in the wake of the awesome "United Snakes" released in 2006 as the flip to "False Flags", and that could have been a welcome addition here).

Yet for all simple it appears, "Heligoland" is a much thought of record, being neither minimal nor easy, it's just that the main body of work hides behind the curtains. As always, the vocalists guestlist must have been quite helpful too : the two Martina Topley-Bird contributions, on the false calmdown "Psyche" and the tense "Babel" shine on, while, oddly, the exquisitely lightweight "Paradise Circus" - an obvious choice for the single - could have been an outtake from that singer's great LP, "Blue God"... except that it's performed (almost haunted, more like) by ex-Mazzy Star diva Hope Sandoval. Also, while not being a big Elbow fan to be frank, I have to give an accolade to their frontman Guy Garvey, who provides his wonderful, almost atonal falsetto on "Flat Of The Blade", making that difficult seemingly weird song sound like an early Peter Gabriel lost gem. Overall the record is less diverse but more consistent than other Massive LPs ; like another reviewer rightly pointed out, there's no real standout tracks yet there's no filler either (I still can't figure out, though, why Damon Albarn has been casted for the relatively dull "Saturday Come Slow", apart from his obvious friendship with the band).

Still, for all great those guests' performances are (and it has to be noted that for each one of them, the backing tracks seem to have been made up especially this time more than ever), it's from 3D himself and regular partner Horace Andy that the best comes again here ; at first together with Daddy G. on the narcotic anthem "Splitting The Atom", then the latter delivers on "Girl I Love You", which despite what its unworthy title might suggest, is a broody reggae-rock hybrid, driven by an epileptic bassline, while, like on "100th Window", the former gets to sound alarmingly worried and warmly seductive at the same time. At that, "Rush Minute" and "Atlas Air" are arguably the best things here, almost towers of song reaching the same heights the frightening "Antistar" did as the closer on the much maligned predecessor to this album.

So overall, "Heligoland" might not be as groundbreaking as the stuff Massive Attack are most known for, but it showcases a collective (with the back of Daddy G, largely absent from the previous decade's output) daring to experiment in his own field, which will be fair enough for some, and disappointing for others. But believe me, a bit like their underrated "Protection" (1994), that beast of a sensitive record (their best effort in my opinion, still), this really, almost physically, GROWS on you.

From 100th Window I can remember "Everywhen" and that was the sole standout track for me. Heligoland is an album which I listen to all the way through without skipping too often even though the final track is nearly 10minutes.

Had I been a major hardcore fan I would've known that Paradise Circus was abridged for the theme music to the BBC cop series "Luther", so I had already heard it at least 10 times without knowing it was them - welcome surprise when I bought the album, but Pray For Rain is an addictive introduction track with a bridge that's almost at the end of the song, so nice and different. Mezzanine being 13 years ago I'm not bothered about holding them up to the standard of an album I don't listen to anymore, their latest album is the best I've heard in a long time and is as much of a grower as their other albums.

I was introduced to Massive Attack by my daughter and immediately liked their last CD. This one however took me a while. My first thought was 'can't see me playing this much' but I left it in the car on the CD changer and gradually got used to it and now really appreciates the depths and nuances of the music.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Massive Attack fifth album
A step away from previous albums with the odd nod back to them. The songs are lo fi in comparison. the darker mood is continued from later albums with a much stripped back... Read more

Published 10 days ago by Dan

4.0 out of 5 stars Hello Heligoland
Really great album - enjoy it more each time we listen. Lots of interesting subtle undercurrents to catch your imagination.

Published 3 months ago by Mrs. S. E. Kay

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't bother!
After playing their older music to death I decided to give their latest album a go............big mistake! Read more

Published 5 months ago by charlotte

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly their best!
Not an instant burner - listened to a few tracks when this album first came out and thought they were so so. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Grantona

4.0 out of 5 stars A great album by Massive Attack
Following their disappointing previous release "100th Window", I was not really sure what to expect from "Heligoland". Fortunately, it is much better than I expected. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Amillionmiles

2.0 out of 5 stars Its been nice knowing them but.......
Many good relationships run their course and come to a natural end and I feel that I have reached that point with Massive Attack. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Lucioperca

4.0 out of 5 stars It's a Massive Attack album...one that i rather like (8.5/10)
To be honest, I overlooked this album when it first came out. The main reason was that the previous album, 100th Window, was incredibly one-paced, and, for want of a better word,... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Mr. S. Bennett

5.0 out of 5 stars From not bad to great!
I have become a very recent fan of Massive Attack and although this vinyl pressing is very good with excellent sound quality (allbeit expensive), initially I didn't think it... Read more

Published 12 months ago by Derek C

4.0 out of 5 stars Sadly falls victim to the "loudness wars"
DR Peak RMS Filename
DR7 over -9.02 dB 01. Pray For Rain feat. Tunde Adebimpe.mp3
DR7 over -9.04 dB 02. Babel feat. Read more

Published 14 months ago by trotter

5.0 out of 5 stars Massive
If you like massive attack then this wont dissapoint. Esp. liked Atlas Air - check out the video on youtube.

Published 14 months ago by amjad

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