Massive Attack – Heligoland

Reviewed by Helen Stephenson

Listening to Heligoland you recognise immediately that it is a Massive Attack record, but with a big twist. With the release of Heligoland, Massive Attack have shed their old skin and morphed into an entirely different animal. This is more of a compilation album overseen by Massive Attack, rather than pure Massive Attack. The two of the group’s founders who are still around, Grant Marshall and Robert Del Naja, seem to have opened a floodgate through which artists are pouring in order to be associated with the duo, including Damon Albarn, Hope Sandoval and Guy Garvey to name only three of many. Don’t worry though, Horace Andy’s still around.

The collaborative nature of this album shows, and perhaps Massive Attack compromised on some musical decisions which would explain the different sound. As well as being marginally more like a pop record, the songs are of a faster tempo than you normally associate with Massive Attack. This may be the reason that these tracks do not feel like they pull you into the fabric of their being in the same way old Massive Attack music does. Nevertheless, this is still a strong album and worth a listen.

Heligoland is released on 8th February through Virgin Music.

4/5