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THE REVIEW
From outside
Like pieces of a puzzle scattered on the ground.
Like an out-of-focus image.
Like a sudden idea. Fleeting and undefined.
The truth is this album throws you off balance. You listen, listen again, and think: where is the connection? How can you combine such different melodies and sounds? What do percussive rhythms, drum n' bass beats, and acoustic guitars have in common? The answer is the obvious one. Nothing. Taken individually, these elements have nothing in common. So you listen again, trying to understand what's underneath. But everything seems too disjointed, illogical, and the urge to give up is strong.
But, right at this point...
From inside
Right at this point, something happens: that sound gets under your skin. The dark rhythm, those damn simple but warm, obsessive beats, that choir of voices and sounds so unequal but that, on reflection, turns out to be just right. Thus, in the depths of this "Heligoland," you can begin by encountering the acoustic sounds of "Saturday Comes Slow", co-written with Damon Albarn, reaching the cold and claustrophobic atmospheres of "Flat Of The Blade", with Guy Garvey perfectly fitting into the part, singing with an alienated and whispered voice, perfect for completing the soundscape. In between, there's so much more: the arabesques and oriental echoes of "Atlas Air", probably the best track on the album, with its relentless rhythm and hypnotic ending; the seductive and delicate rhythms of "Paradise Circus" which form an ideal musical backdrop for the dramatic vocal performance of a simply perfect Hope Sandoval, and still the massive and powerful bass of "Girl I Love You", excellent in contrasting the brass that comes in here and there and Horace Andy's high-pitched voice.
But, despite the soundscapes being so different from each other, it is that underlying sound that slowly starts to circulate in your mind that acts as glue, finally giving a meaning to everything, rewarding your patience.
Yes, because when the puzzle pieces finally fall into place, "Heligoland" reveals what it truly is: another great album by Massive Attack.
And when the album ends, you're there thinking, smiling: "They got me again this time". Indeed.
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Summary by Bot
The review describes Massive Attack's Heligoland as initially challenging and disjointed but ultimately rewarding. Various tracks featuring collaborations with Damon Albarn, Hope Sandoval, and Guy Garvey create a rich, dark, and hypnotic atmosphere. The album’s diverse sounds come together as the listener grows familiar with the underlying connections. Heligoland is hailed as another great album by Massive Attack that cleverly balances complex elements.Tracklist Videos
Massive Attack
Bristol-based music group formed in 1988, widely credited as pioneers of trip-hop; original core members include Robert '3D' Del Naja, Grant 'Daddy G' Marshall and Andrew 'Mushroom' Vowles.33 Reviews
Other reviews
By synth-charmer
"Heligoland is a complete and complex album, with an impressive variety of sounds."
"Among all the albums created by the Bristol group, Heligoland is the one with the most rock-oriented sounds."
By O__O
"Heligoland is a proverbial swan song of good taste, uncovered from any logic, surviving thanks to the trendy tastes of wonky rhythms and sensational motifs."
"Soft, cool, with a few moments of light, but absolutely lacking in verve and very boring. Like a conversation that leads nowhere and concludes with 'what nice weather today'."
