Thread: Massive Attack - Heligoland

released Feb 9th, 2010



from the album - Splitting The Atom

YouTube - Massive Attack - Splitting the Atom (Official Video)

from all music

The pioneering force behind the rise of trip-hop, Massive Attack were among the most innovative and influential groups of their generation; their hypnotic sound — a darkly sensual and cinematic fusion of hip-hop rhythms, soulful melodies, dub grooves, and choice samples — set the pace for much of the dance music to emerge throughout the 1990s, paving the way for such acclaimed artists as Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, Beth Orton, and Tricky, himself a Massive Attack alumnus. Their history dates back to 1983 and the formation of the Wild Bunch, one of the earliest and most successful sound system/DJ collectives to arrive on the U.K. music scene; renowned for their seamless integration of a wide range of musical styles, from punk to reggae to R&B, the group's parties quickly became can't-miss events for the Bristol club crowd, and at the peak of their popularity they drew crowds so enormous that the local live music scene essentially ground to a halt.

When the Wild Bunch folded during the mid-'80s, two of its members — Andrew "Mushroom" Vowles and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall — teamed with local graffiti artist 3D (born Robert del Naja) to form Massive Attack in 1987; another Wild Bunch alum, Nellee Hooper, split his time between the new group and his other project, Soul II Soul. The group's first single, "Daydreaming," appeared in 1990; it featured the sultry vocals of singer Shara Nelson and raps by Tricky, another onetime Wild Bunch collaborator. The classic "Unfinished Sympathy" followed, as did another compelling effort, "Safe from Harm." Finally, in 1991 Massive Attack issued their debut LP, Blue Lines; while by no means a huge commercial success, the record was met with major critical praise, and was dubbed an instant classic in many quarters. Nelson, featured on many of the album's most memorable tracks, exited for a solo career soon after, and the group then confusingly changed its name to simply "Massive" to avoid any implication of approval for the U.N.'s policy toward Iraq; in the wake of the disastrous U.S. tour that followed, many were quick to write the band off right then and there.

After a three-year layoff, Massive Attack — their full name now properly reinstated — resurfaced with Protection; again working with Hooper and Tricky, they also brought into the fold vocalist Nicolette, as well as Everything But the Girl's Tracey Thorn. Three singles — "Karmacoma," "Sly," and the title track — were released from the LP, which was also remixed in its entirety by Mad Professor and issued as No Protection. A lengthy tour followed, and over the next several years, Massive Attack's solo work was primarily confined to remixes for artists including Garbage; they also worked with Madonna on a track for a Marvin Gaye tribute album. Finally, to promote their appearance at the annual Glastonbury music festival, the group issued a new EP, Risingson, during the summer of 1997. The third full-length Massive Attack effort, Mezzanine, appeared in mid-1998; in addition to reggae singer Horace Andy, making his third consecutive LP appearance with the group, vocal chores were handled by the Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser and newcomer Sara Jay. Mezzanine became a cult hit among critics, clubs, and the college crowds, spinning successful singles such as "Teardrop" and "Inertia Creeps." A tour of America and Europe followed, but Vowles left the band after disagreeing with the artistic direction of Mezzanine. Del Naja and Marshall continued as a duo, later working with the likes of David Bowie and the Dandy Warhols, but Marshall later took a leave of absence to raise his family; producer Neil Davidge took up the slack.

In February 2003, after a five-year wait, Massive Attack released their fourth album, 100th Window, including collaborations with mainstay Horace Andy as well as Sinéad O'Connor. Danny the Dog, released in 2004, marked the group's entry into film score work and, perhaps unsurprisingly, often sounded much more like incidental background music than a typical Massive Attack release. From there, Del Naja and Davidge scored a handful of other films — In Prison My Whole Life, Battle in Seattle, and Trouble the Water, for which they earned an Oscar nomination — but their work was credited to their real names or the pseudonym 100 Suns rather than Massive Attack. The fifth Massive Attack album, Heligoland, released in 2010, featured collaborations with TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe, Elbow's Guy Garvey, and Martina Topley-Bird.

album review from la times

At first glance, the lead track off Massive Attack's new album "Heligoland" seems to have done the improbable and sucked the soul out of Tunde Adebimpe. The TV on the Radio vocalist cameos on "Pray for Rain," where a dissonant piano rolls over jazzy drum fills, and Adebimpe gives maybe his most deadpan vocal performance ever. It's a brooding number that threatens to tax one's patience, until the clouds part into a beatific ending of falsetto harmonies, and the payoff is real and earned.

Much of "Heligoland" works like this -- a dour, glitchy intro of impeccable atmospherics implacably winds its way into something panoramic and exhilarating. From the mannered jungle drumming of "Babel" to the funeral synths of "Flat of The Blade," this is Massive Attack's best attempt yet to reconcile their studio-wonk electronica impulses with a not-so-secret desire to be a Radiohead-worthy rock band at points (funny, Radiohead's been on the same path lately).

Martina Topley-Bird turns in some of the band's best vocal performances, with her glassy alto riding the shivery trance synths of "Psyche." Elbow's Guy Garvey, Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval and Damon Albarn stop in for idiosyncratic turns that the band's huge palette accommodates kindly. And even if "Splitting the Atom" suggests that Massive Attack is better served behind the boards than the microphone, this is expert festival-electro that takes you far.

Track Listing

1."Pray for Rain" (vocals by Tunde Adebimpe) – 6:43
2."Babel" (vocals by Martina Topley-Bird) – 5:18
3."Splitting the Atom" (vocals by Grant Marshall, Horace Andy and Robert Del Naja) – 5:15
4."Girl I Love You" (vocals by Horace Andy) – 5:26
5."Psyche" (vocals by Martina Topley-Bird) – 3:23
6."Flat of the Blade" (vocals by Guy Garvey) – 5:29
7."Paradise Circus" (vocals by Hope Sandoval) – 4:58
8."Rush Minute" (vocals by Robert Del Naja) – 4:48
9."Saturday Come Slow" (vocals by Damon Albarn) – 3:42
10."Atlas Air" (vocals by Robert Del Naja) – 7:47

This is a fantastic album, worthy of being held up with Mezzanine, IMO. With the releases of Heligoland, Portishead's 3rd and Tricky's Knowle West Boy some of the pioneers of the trip-hop movement have been showing they still have "it".

Third is awful.

No it isn't.

Yes it is.

Is this a five minute argument, or the full half hour ??

Third is one of the best albums I've heard in years. What do you find awful about it?

This is their worst album. A real dissapointment. I love Massive Attack. Saw them in Stockholm 6months ago. Got all of their albums and almost every singel as well...But this album isnt up to their standard (which is extremely high!). The song Atlas air is the only track from this album that would fit in a 20song collection of their bests...
I do recommend ALL of their other albums, Blue Lines,Protection, Mezzanine,100th window...If you are into cool deep rhythms,filmscore-esque sounds,and sometimes really intoxicating bass-lines...;)

I think they should have called it quits after Mezzanine. Maybe it takes the chemistry of all three original members to really reach a high level of quality.

On the 4th album,100th window, they were only down to 1person. (still that album has some real good tracks!) On this latest album they are up to 2 members.(originally they were 3 with alot of help from the people behind Soul2Soul,Björk,Neneh Cherry,Portishead etc) . Time has gone by. Its almost 20years(!) since their debut came. Its hard to be as innovative during this time,as in the beginning. Still they are one of the coolest band with coolest sound ever.(even the songs arent that good lately):)