Heligoland is a record that feels rushed and directionless, a fairly random series of cheap-sounding noises thrown at a canvas. Not a lot of it sticks.
The kings of trip-hop released an excellent album last year and it didn't even make it on Sputnik's top 100 of 2010? "Paradise Circus," "Psyche," "Rush Minute" and "Atlas Air" are all phenomenal tracks on an album that doesn't have a weak point. Is it as good as Mezzanine? No, but will a trip-hop album ever be released that is?
Although I slightly dislike the idea of rotating the guest vocalists, this album is pretty cool. It employs pianos and keyboards more so than their trip-hop classic Mezzanine, but isn't as good. Not surprisingly, Heligoland's best moments occur with Martina Topley-Bird performing the vocals. A highly-atmospheric, easy-listening album, Heligoland clocks in at a 3.2/5.