Review of Massive Attack's new "Heligoland" album in progress...
...but I'll tell you right now that Tunde Adebimpe (who provides guest vocals on "Pray For Rain") sounds spookily like Nick Cave on the first track. Seriously.
[Later.]
Back on familiar ground with "Babel" - yes, that's the trip-hop vibe of old. (Is Martina Topley-Bird joining 'em for promotional work, or is this a recording deal only? No idea.)
Slow, summery drift to "Splitting the Atom". Nice, but it just reinforces my suspicion that this album's coming out at the wrong time of year. Horace Andy on vocals there, and on the next track - "Girl I Love You" - which sounds like a leftover from Mezzanine. Actually, if this isn't a single it should be. Excellent production, with plenty of "rotoscoping" FX over the basslines and some discordant synth brass. Where the Hell did that come from? Yeah, this one's going on the MP3 player.
Okay, Martina's back for "Psyche" - multiphased over some really playful acoustic guitar. Damn, this is VW camper van-on-the-cliffside stuff. Play it in mid-August with sunlight reflecting off shot glasses on a table and you'll see what I mean.
"Flat of the Blade" is just noodling, and Guy Garvey (vocals) isn't up to the job. Sorry, Guy. Filler. One to skip.
[Later.]
Right, well so far there's a very stripped-down feel to this album, and I'm not sure that the tinkly chimes and handclapping on "Paradise Circus" add much to Hope Sandoval's voice and piano work. But hang on and stick with it, because for the final third of the track there's a hint of a celestial choir and some excellent orchestral overlay. More of that, please.
"Rush Minute" picks up from where the 100th Window album left off. Good, solid track, and much surer of itself and where it's going - I'd dare to call it classic MA. Uh-oh, here comes Damon Albarn on "Saturday Come Slow". Oh dear. Tuneless stroke victim on Valium. Skip.
And we finish with the fake Wurlitzer and creepy threat menace of "Atlas Air". Just a hint of '80s electro/synth rhythms in there, too. (Think Cabaret Voltaire, Code era.) *Nods in approval.*
Patchy, but the good stuff's really good, and overall it's been worth the wait. 8/10.
Heligoland is out on the 8th of February.
[Later.]
Back on familiar ground with "Babel" - yes, that's the trip-hop vibe of old. (Is Martina Topley-Bird joining 'em for promotional work, or is this a recording deal only? No idea.)
Slow, summery drift to "Splitting the Atom". Nice, but it just reinforces my suspicion that this album's coming out at the wrong time of year. Horace Andy on vocals there, and on the next track - "Girl I Love You" - which sounds like a leftover from Mezzanine. Actually, if this isn't a single it should be. Excellent production, with plenty of "rotoscoping" FX over the basslines and some discordant synth brass. Where the Hell did that come from? Yeah, this one's going on the MP3 player.
Okay, Martina's back for "Psyche" - multiphased over some really playful acoustic guitar. Damn, this is VW camper van-on-the-cliffside stuff. Play it in mid-August with sunlight reflecting off shot glasses on a table and you'll see what I mean.
"Flat of the Blade" is just noodling, and Guy Garvey (vocals) isn't up to the job. Sorry, Guy. Filler. One to skip.
[Later.]
Right, well so far there's a very stripped-down feel to this album, and I'm not sure that the tinkly chimes and handclapping on "Paradise Circus" add much to Hope Sandoval's voice and piano work. But hang on and stick with it, because for the final third of the track there's a hint of a celestial choir and some excellent orchestral overlay. More of that, please.
"Rush Minute" picks up from where the 100th Window album left off. Good, solid track, and much surer of itself and where it's going - I'd dare to call it classic MA. Uh-oh, here comes Damon Albarn on "Saturday Come Slow". Oh dear. Tuneless stroke victim on Valium. Skip.
And we finish with the fake Wurlitzer and creepy threat menace of "Atlas Air". Just a hint of '80s electro/synth rhythms in there, too. (Think Cabaret Voltaire, Code era.) *Nods in approval.*
Patchy, but the good stuff's really good, and overall it's been worth the wait. 8/10.
Heligoland is out on the 8th of February.