Review by Jason Norwood
Rating: **** 1/2
Standout tracks: Paradise Circus, Saturday Come Slow
Massive Attack is one of those curious projects that seem to be able to sidestep most popular music conventions, maintain integrity, and keep their popularity. Their fifth album, "Heligoland", contains some of Massive Attack's traditional underpinnings--deep rhythms and a revolving-door lineup of guest vocalists. However, as with every album, the tradition ends there, and this has never been a downside for Massive Attack. "Heligoland" straddles a seemingly impossible run of musical styles without delving too deeply into any of them, making for an excellent end-to-end listen. This time, they tap into Martina Topley-Bird (who previously did vocals for MA alumni Tricky) and unlikely Mazzy Star vocalist Hope Sandoval, who nonetheless fits like a glove on "Paradise Circus". The only reason why I can't hit five stars with this album is because it doesn't quite have the groove of their pinnacle album "Mezzanine", but that will always be a hard act to follow for any trip-hop album.