Massive Attack

Heligoland (Virgin)

By Bonnie Thurston
Published: March 1st, 2010 | 7:00am

In a career spanning more than 20 years, Massive Attack has only released five studio recordings. Its latest album (the first in seven years), Heligoland features the return of founding members Robert Del Naja (“3D”) and Grant Marshall (“Daddy G”) along with Horace Andy, the only collaborator to have appeared on all of the outfit’s studio releases. Although Del Naja and Marshall handle lead vocals on three tracks, they cede vocal duties on the remaining seven to guest artists who fit seamlessly into the fabric of the work.

New to the fold are Hope Sandoval, Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio), Guy Garvey (Elbow), and Martina Topley-Bird. Best known for her work with Tricky, Topley-Bird successfully cut her musical teeth on trip hop; one listen to “Babel” will leave you wondering why the collaboration didn’t happen earlier. And as Topley-Bird does on “Babel” and “Psyche,” Sandoval brings a palpable sultriness to “Paradise Circus,” the album’s best track.

Also included is Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn who last sang backing vocals on “Small Time Shot Away,” and now takes the lead on the mournful “Saturday Come Slow,” one of the album’s darkest tracks.

Fans have waited a long time for this nearly 53-minute offering and are certain to find that this characteristically well-crafted, dark, sexy, atmospheric project has been well worth the wait.

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