Massive Attack ‎– Heligoland

Nearly 20 years ago I met up with a friend and when went out to pick up his friend at his house before a night on the town and his clothing line after party. Lounging in his los Angeles apartment I first heard Unfinshed Symphony by Massive Attack. I went over to his stereo and must have played the track about 5 times until he told me to let the cd play. Blue Lines cd. Shortly after Protection came out and Massive Attack was my new favorite more mainstream artists. After Mezzanine and the turn of the century so many artists pulled me different ways I nearly forgot about Massive Attack enough so to even not get 100th Window due to mixed reviews. Then in 2004 I got their DVD of videos thinking this would be the final collection retrospect of Massive Attack and I could close the book on their good but relatively short catalog. When word spread they had a new album out and that it was worth checking into I definitely wanted to pick it up but was in no hurry.

3 weeks ago at a used cd shop I picked it up and last week I had a 3 hour drive memorial weekend during sunset from Pennsylvania down to Virginia. This was my opportunity to have a memorable experience with the first listening like I like to do with new music.

Track one started off as a good note but I wasn't turned on to the vocals I was hearing. To me it sounded and reminded me of Zero 7 - Simple Things. Which I like but it's very a.m sounding and it's a cd I play to someone who has no background on electronic music. 2 things save this song from being average. 3:40 an ad-lib joins the melody planting it firmly into the electronic genre. Which then leads to an amazing melodic breakdown with wonderful vocal over the top. Stunning part and brings a huge smile to my face. Nearing my 6th listen through the cd my favorite moment. IMO the song should fade out there. However it does break and go back to sounding like the first couple minutes without ramping back up. Leaving it feeling like it was bad decision.

Song 2 adds a beat that reminds me almost of a 1997 period Autechre song. Quickly a baseline and then vocal tells you this may be the most driving rock song Massive Attack have done. Successful I feel but not really my style of music. definitely good though out of respect.

Song 3 brings the hip hop beat. Spooky, twisted number. Vocals and melody sounds a bit like a dark nursery rhyme. The first glimpse that you know who you are listening to. Recognizable. Ok track I think.

Song 4 sounds like a Mezzanine b-side track. Driving rhythm, underlying urban trip hop rock combination and powerful aggressiveness. Pretty good track but again not my favorite Massive Attack sounding style. I tend to like the more gentle moments of Massive Attack. If you like Inertia Creeps this will be along the same lines.

Track 5 changes up the direction of the cd and cuts a little bit of the seriousness that was building. This is an interesting change of pace for the cd. It's catchy in an avant garde way. I enjoy the last 20 seconds that round out the direction of the song cutting the frantic psychopathic guitar notes that were repeating though most of the track.

Track 6 brings back the Zero 7 vocals like in the first. This tracks vocal however is much better than the first track. This song has a very cool beat underneath the song. very dub by and electro sounding. Orchestra over the top takes the track to dramatic heights. A complete track and so far the most complete sounding on the cd. This song needs to be remixed. You could take it so many ways. Very good stuff here. And of any song on the cd has grown on me the most after listens.

#7 immediately I liked. Not sure what to point out why. It's just a good track. Probably the most single like radio friendly one on here. Almost like Angel off Mezzanie. Very excellent and soft on the ears. I appreciate the sonic attack on the ears sometimes but here is where I like Massive Attack

#8 continues the more mellowed vibes. This one also stands out well through first listen. Memorable stuff. Really fine combo and balance of rock and electronic. Cd really hitting a stride now. Another very good one here

#9 is another immediate winner. Probobly my favorite on this cd. Moving and catchy. This song is really really good and could really be a soundtrack to a movie. Inspirational. Timeless. Perhaps oe f their best.

#10 concludes the cd with the longest track. Perhaps the most daring. Starting with a dated organ main melody that is almost as confusing as it is really catchy. Mezzanine meets the vocal style in Daydreaming and you get the idea. Awesome rhythm and wonderful evolving of the background melody really makes this the most hypnotic song on the cd. Another one that is really growing on e as a winner. 4:30 the song really hits the sweet spot and the track clears up the confusion leaving the basics of rhythm working to the vocal. Lastly a bit of a acid breaks out underneath building the organ back up to the conclusion. Did Luke Vibert do this acid line? Lol. Reminds me of Wagon Christ

If this cd is remembered for anything it says that Massive Attack are not done. In fact have allot to give. What's also worth noting is that IMO Massive Attack might be the best and most seasoned in combining rock and electronic music.

My best find of this year might be rediscovering what I already knew

As the members move into their 40's it's fantastic to know they are as creative as ever.

Beats in Tim Goldsworthy remix of "Pray For Rain" sound similar to drums from Soft Rocks "Umut 2000"! It was fun to note it

Not going to be able to agree with you all here. I did like Atlas Air. I also liked Girl I Love you but the out of tune horns at the end ruins it for me. I found the rest of the album rather boring. However if your into the chill side of massive attack I would recommend. I like their more driving tunes and there's not much of that here.

I like this!

Stand out tracks for me are 'Girl I love You', 'Paradie Se Circus' & 'Rush Minute'

Bizarrely, given the general excellent quality and detail of this vinyl production, the tracklisting on the sleeve is wrong. The sleeve lists the Additional 12" as containing Girl I Love You (She is Danger Remix), Paradise Circus Breakage's Tightrope Remix), United Snakes, Pray for Rain (Tim Goldsworthy Remix).

Like any other edition from the Vinyl Factory this is a collectors edition, as it takes the music of the artist to high level of presentation detail. Before listen to the music I was really impressed by the quality and detail of this cover, need to be seen in the flesh. The pressing of the vinyls is top... fantastic deep and fat sound, I can feel a lot of differences from the CD.
These days, in that more people buy vinyl and that limited editions grow in every style of music, it is important to detail when something stands for quality in the presentation and sound, otherwise we would all simply buy MP3.
The music itself is like any other Massive Attack... timeless and now following the line since Mezzanine, more and more music for the mind.
Heligoland is a world of sensations, something that takes your mind to different trips. If sometimes you can sing along with Robert, Martina, Horace or Hope, other times you just surf between Heaven and Hell, like with Guy, but always moving... always loosing your mind in timeless memories of a lost future.
I will not bother you with more details about the edition, but please pay attention to the third vinyl where you can find the remixes.

P.S.: Don't loose the video of Paradise Circus

OK...If you haven't heard this stunning work yet you are truly missing out. I consider myself a pretty jaded listener these days and find a lot of newer music missing something. This is missing nothing. Massive Attack have this innate ability to make electronic records that sound timeless...like Mezzanine for one. Heligoland weaves the dark with the light seemlessly. Love songs with darker messages and without missing a beat. There may not be any kitchy coolness or intentional underproduction to create a 'sound' (see Passion Pit) and why....because this is that good that each track is stand alone good. So good that they drip with class and stunning top-notch production. It never feels dated. It never feels forced. It feels like it fits into a pre-arranged space in your brain that has always been there waiting for it. But make no excuse, it isn't predictable. This record is straight up smack. Download it, buy the wax, the cd...it's meant for your brain.