On the third track, “Splitting the Atom,” Daddy G sings in his husky whisper how “It never stops/And we’ll never learn.” That sums up the spirit and sound of the fifth offering from enduring UK band Massive Attack. They’re back to being themselves. The last outing, 100th Window, driven by the other dominant member of this collective, Robert Del Naja, sounded like denial, a flight from true identity. With Heligoland, they put it all back on the low end. And they rely on their rhythmic sense, all the variations they discover through it. Besides working with Portishead guitarist Adrian Utley, collaborators include the brilliant reggae vocalist Horace Andy and, for the first time, Tunde Adebimpe (another lovely guest spot, he should be featured everywhere).
This article appears in Apr 1-7, 2010.