After seven years, Massive Attack, the progenitors of the trip hop sound are back with a new album, Heligoland. During the summer, they released the single “Spitting the Atom” for free download featuring the wonderful vocals of reggae veteran, Horace Andy. With Heligoland, their fifth release, the journey contains their usual distorted guitars, orchestral arrangements, haunting drums and percussions – reminiscent of Bjork’s earlier works. Still using the sleepy vocals of Martina Topley-Bird on “Babel” and “Psyche,” Horace Andy also on “Girl I Love You,” and new collaborative additions with Guy Harvey (Elbow), Damon Albarn (the Gorillaz), Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio) — the return is nothing short of what we’d expect from this innovative band.

As always, their album art work always pushes the envelop. Not many know of the movement Robert “3D” Del Naja has created in designing album covers for particular bands; his work is highly influenced by the late Jean Michel Basquiat. Read this Guardian.co.uk article about his visual art of darkness.

Below are my favourite cuts off the album. Heligoland is available at iTunes, Amazon, and other retailers.

“Atlas Air”

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“Babel” feat. Martina Topley-Bird

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