Massive Attack — Heligoland

Back in the '90s, the long waits between Massive Attack records used to get chalked up to creative geniuses crafting their next masterpiece. Now, it seems more like a pair of aging musicians waiting for the slightest whiff of inspiration.

On their first album in seven years, and first to feature Grant "Daddy G" Marshall since 1998's Mezzanine, the band seem to be floating without direction. To compensate Robert "3D" Del Naja and Daddy G have recruited a guest vocalist for almost every track on the record, including TV On The Radio's Tunde Adebimpe, Damon Albarn and one-time Tricky collaborator Martina Topley-Bird.

But no amount of star power can guide these listless tracks to greatness. Massive Attack's best tracks always had an incredible cadence to them. Vocalists like Horace Andy or Elizabeth Fraser always added to the songs, but were never expected to carry them as each singer is here.

Word is dub-step mystery man Burial has been given all of the album's tracks to remix a la Mad Professor's dub rework on No Protection. Hopefully he can redeem this once great group.

Get it from