Massive Attack, Heligoland
Posted on 5th Feb 10 by Paddy Murphy | 
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Massive Attack release their sixth studio album, not including compilations and soundtracks, on February 9th. To suggest it hasn’t been eagerly awaited would be akin to saying that John Terry and Wayne Bridge will remain bosom buddies. It’s only February and if I could find a bookies in Poland where they spoke fluent English I’d [...]
Massive Attack release their sixth studio album, not including compilations and soundtracks, on February 9th. To suggest it hasn’t been eagerly awaited would be akin to saying that John Terry and Wayne Bridge will remain bosom buddies.
Massive Attack, Heligoland
It’s only February and if I could find a bookies in Poland where they spoke fluent English I’d bet a few złoty on them at least getting the Mercury Award for this. Maybe a Brit and a couple of NME ones too.
It’s been a long long time since we got a full Massive Attack record, 2003′s 100th Window was the previous offering, or was it? Only one member contributed to it. Anyway the twosome are back now and in full-glorious-swing, thankfully.
We did get the Splitting the Atom EP last year which only tormented us with a level of expectancy for what was to come in the near future.
From paranoia to bliss, ecstatic joy to pure-as-virgin-snow bitterness, lovelorn regret to unholy rage. It’s all here
Enough jibber-jabber, let’s get to it, this album is absolutely fantastic. It’s better than that, it’s extravagantly wonderful. The evolution of Massive Attack has been something to behold. In their beginnings they made records to either be played in clubs or played before you headed on your merry-way to said clubs. As they got older records went from a having a pre-club feel to a post-club comedown texture.
Recently I had a discussion with a DJ about the Bristolians and I argued passionately that Massive Attack‘s studio records were in some way like the evolution of a recreational drug user over a night out. In the early moments, everything is hopeful and the world can be pictured through those rose-tinted specs. Of course, the music was downbeat but there was a message throughout that “everything is ok and will be ok in the future too”.
This progressed though the years until 2003′s 100th Window, which was melancholy beyond belief, yet wonderful in it’s delivery. Some argued it was too sad, but let us not forget that it had to follow the groups most successful record, Mezzanie, and unlike other successful groups the record stayed the course and continued to experiment with the Massive Attack sound instead of just becoming sterile and milking the cash-cow for a few years.
Massive Attack
With Heligoland the melancholy isn’t as prevalent, it’s still there but the mood swings on this record are a full-on mindfuck.
It’s wonderful thing. From paranoia to bliss, ecstatic joy to pure-as-virgin-snow bitterness, lovelorn regret to unholy rage. It’s all here.
This record isn’t made for pre-club or post-club it’s made for you to listen to alone, on headphones and in your own little space of the world. Once those terms are accepted then the pair of genii behind the record, D and G, or 3D and Daddy G, whichever pseudonym you prefer to use, will take you on an excursion of emotions.
Any criticism? Only the usual with Massive Attack, their records are always too short.
Mention of the collaboration is needed too. Much will be made of the inclusion of Guy Garvey (Flat of the Blade) and Damon Albarn
(Saturday Comes Slow), two artist I’m not huge fans of. I like Elbow, musically, but they really made me stare at my shoes instead of looking the world in the face. As for Blur, well, they have about five good songs and the only two decent things Albarn ever did were, one, Gorillaz and two, break up Blur, but he went back on that last year to make a few extra quid.
On first listen I wasn’t into their songs but after many many repeated plays they sunK in and both are great tunes that will get the attention they deserve. However, we must pay particular regard to long-time collaborator Horace Andy. Girl I Love You is one of the most wonderful moments on this record.
Andy has one of those voices that once you hear it you cannot forget, he’s overlooked far too much in this fickle world of ours. Another favourite came courtesy of TV on the Radio‘s Tunde Adebimpe on opening track Pray for Rain.
But these are just personal favourites, you’ll have your own once you sit down and listen to the record yourself. And remember, headphones, alone and in your own little space in the world.
Drop-d Rating: 9.2/10
Tags: 100th Window, 3D, blur, Brit, D, Daddy G, damon albarn, elbow, G, Gorillaz, Guy Garvey, Horace Andy, John Terry, Massive Attack, Mercury Award, nme, Tunde Adebimpe, TV on the radio, Wayne Bridge