Heligoland Massive Attack EMI Rs 395,rating: HHH Massive Attack,originally a three-piece lineup that has been reduced to two members,has bludgeoned the Bristol scene with neurotically dark and intense music since the 1990s. Hailed as the progenitors of trip hop much to the dislike of the band they scaled their dread-best with Mezzanine that gave us the volatile Angel that was picturised by Guy Ritchie in the movie Snatch. In Heligoland,their fifth record,the collaborators Robert Del Naja and Grant Marshall are back after seven years of cathartic lull,armed with electronic drone attacks,thematically potent refrains and foreboding brass,strings and grooves floating in realms similar to that of a black hole ready to gobble up a gigantic star. Adding to the cache of eerie grooves are Damon Albarn (of Blur and Gorillaz) and maverick guitarist Adrian Utley (of Portishead). Enthralling melodies in Paradise Circus and bubble-wrapped electro synths heaving behind Guy Garveys tenor and ethereal humming in Flat of the Blade move to tourniquet guitar loops in Psyche and melancholic brooding in Saturday Come Slow. Girl I Love You has some haunting vocals tweaks by Andy and menacing brass sections while the last song Atlas Air ascends to a spectacular frenzy. If the universe with all its dark mysteries unravelling needed a background score to go with it,these guys would be the frontrunners for a call-sheet. mohan.kumar@expressindia.com
