Massive Attack Heligoland Virgin ****

You can excuse Massive Attack's output resembling that of The Blue Nile, as their contribution to music is as influential as it is inspiring. 1991's Blue Linesbeautifully reshaped the musical landscape and opened a portal that facilitated the development of a whole new genre. If subsequent works haven't had the same impact, they are still masterclasses in musical sculpture. Now a two-piece production duo, Massive Attack's great skill over the years has been in identifying precisely the right vocalist to place over their mesmeric rhythms, whether it's Shara Nelson, Horace Andy or Elizabeth Fraser.

Heligoland(a German archipelago, geography followers) is their first release since the slightly underwhelming 100th Windowin 2003. Getting the album out was a complicated process, but last year's Splitting the AtomEP signalled they were ready to roll.

There are no highlights as such here; no great identifying sound emerges, there's no real landmark moment. Everything shares a similar momentum – tracks threaten to take a sharp turn or move up a gear but then think better of it and return to their core dynamic. The opener, Pray for Rain, with delicious vocals by TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe, sets the not-quite-cantering pace as all manner of synth studio trickery and quick percussive beats jolly the sound along.  Splitting the Atomsounds like it was written for Nick Cave, and is perhaps a bit too synth-heavy, but Horace Andy never sounded better than he does on the moving Girl I Love You.

Almost acoustic on Psyche, they allow Tricky's old sparring partner, Martina Topley- Bird, to infiltrate the song with some almost childlike vocals, while Elbow's Guy Garvey comes over ultra-solemn on Flat of the Blade.On Paradise Circus, Hope Sandovalcaresses the song wonderfully, while Damon Albarn may have produced a career highlight in his reading of the wonderfully plaintive Saturday Come Slow.

Shot through with an ambient- noir feeling, Heligolandonly gradually reveals its manifold charms. Artfully executed and almost hypnotic in places, this is another triumph for one of best British bands of the past 20 years.

Download tracks: Psyche, Saturday Come Slow