Massive Attack - Heligo Land

[BrotherLovesDub]

who exactly makes up the Massive Attack touring group?

[joethelion]

well - when I saw them a couple of years back (on the Tour to support "Collected") it was 3D, Horace Andy, Elizabeth Fraser, and their tour band

(Daddy G wasn't there b/c he just recently had a kid)

I don't know who was in the touring band, but it was basically a normal "band set up" - guitar, bass, drums, keyboards

From what I've heard on bootlegs of recent shows, instead of Elizabeth, they've got Martina Topley-Bird, but other than that - it's pretty much the same (with Daddy G)

[Dirty0900]

Martina Topley Bird will probably be there, she was for da UK tour.

[stimpee]

There are some fantastic bootlegs of the recent concerts around. One of them Milan 11/2009 is great except for the radio DJ who feels the need to explain *everything* between every song in Italian, is mint and a great example of how MA sound on tour in 2009/10. I've made a version that snips out 99% of this annoying DJ and just concentrates on the music. Judging from this i'd say that MA are well worth seeing live. Heligoland is a return to form. I refused to buy 100th Window because of the DRM. I hear that this album is available un-DRM'd on iTunes Plus with extra tracks.

[bas_I_am]

Originally Posted by stimpee

I refused to buy 100th Window because of the DRM. I hear that this album is available un-DRM'd on iTunes Plus with extra tracks.

thats why you buy from amazon

[Sappys Curry]

I have given the album some time and I liked it initially, but didn't respond in this thread and thought I'd give the album more time. Well, it grew on me more. I am quite happy with the album. I like it a lot better than 100th Window. While 100th Window is technically great, it isn't an enjoyable listen to me. Very one-dimensional in tone and sound, lacks diversity and variety, and is dreary from start to finish. I like the album, but not too much. I'd rank it last for all their albums.

So, as I was saying, I'm glad that this album, Heligoland, is much better (to me it is, at least). It actually has life, for one thing. Pray for Rain and Atlas Air would be my favorite tracks. I also really like Girl I Love You and Babel. The rest of the songs are good or at least solid. I really dig Flat of the Blade for some reason. Maybe it is because I really dig dark and experimental electronica music (for instance, 10,000 Hz Legend is my favorite Air album, believe it or not [not that I don't love Air's typical stuff, because I do]). I'd rank this album as third best from MA. I'm real happy it turned out well. It sure isn't a Mezzanine or Blue Lines, though.

[unwound floors]

Saw them live in Melbourne two nights ago. Was one person away from the front. Absolutely fucking mindblowing. Beautiful visuals, sound quality was on point and some stunning vocal performances from Robert del Naja, Grant Marshall, Horace Andy, Martina Topley Bird and Deborah Miller. Excellent evening.