Massive Attack - Heliogland
Rating
RIYL
PortisheadUNKLE
Tricky
Release Date
02/09/2010
Label
Virgin RecordsTracklist
1. Pray For Rain2. Babel
3. Splitting The Atom
4. Girl I Love You
5. Psyche
6. Flat Of The Blade
7. Paradise Circus
8. Rush Minute
9. Saturday Come Slow
10. Go
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It is hard to say whether to be more impressed by the music on Massive Attack's latest release, Heliogland, or the array of guest vocalists who lend their voices on the album. Either way, the UK duo has put together a well-crafted record for trip-hop fans to groove to. The band has always delved into the darker regions of listeners sonic taste buds, and this record does not stray away from those areas at all as they create haunting melodies accompanied by either tribal or sometimes old school beats. There’s nothing like a throbbing, distorted bass beat to accompany the sultry vocals of English trip-hop queen, Martina Topley-Bird, who does a couple of guest spots on the album, or a tribal drum beat backed a piercing organ in “Pray for Rain.”
There could not have been a better way to begin Heliogland than by opening with a track such as “Pray for Rain.” The distinctive bellowing vocals lent by Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio fame, gives the song its flare. The song’s most distinguishing characteristic is the repetitive beat and piano line, but they are able to keep a listener’s interest by layering more sounds on top. This all changes at about the three minute mark where the tempo speeds up and Adebimpe raises his voice as the drum beat picks up intensity. The song is an incredibly pleasing opener, setting a great standard for the rest of the album.
The remaining songs on Heliogland provide quivering beats that will keep anyone’s dancing appetite fulfilled. One of the two songs Bird adds her vocal talent to is the song “Psyche” which treads into a dark, sensual dub-style atmosphere. “Paradise Circus” featuring Hope Sandoval, most likely known from her work with Mazzy Star throughout the 90’s, adds her near whisper to a harrowing piano line backed by hand clap beats. It is a song essential in keeping the murky flow of Heliogland.
While it may not be the best song on the album, it is certainly nice to hear a familiar voice in Blur and Gorillaz front man Damon Albarn on “Saturday Come Slow," which is one of the more structured and more concise songs on the album. While it does feature Albarn, it is not one of the more impressive songs on the album. Albarn’s voice seems almost out of place in the song, and the music itself is boring and nowhere near as unique as other songs on the album.
With a shaky, slippery synth to lead off, "Girl I Love You" with a simple back beat allows reggae legend Horace Andy, whose drowsy vocals compliment the track beautifully, to shine as the focus of the track. The song’s simplicity is found in the repetitive organ chords mixed with another hand clap beat.
For first time listeners, Heliogland would be a fine introduction into the world of Massive Attack. It is an album that is full of dark anthems, and it is really an enjoyable album overall. While in some songs the creativity might be lacking, other songs are able to pick up the slack.
--Andrew Beam
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