This long awaited offering from Massive Attack has failed to convince many fans of the band's earlier work, partly due to the group's new structure.

100th Window is the most concise Massive Attack offering to date but in effect it is a solo project. Band member Mushroom is out of the picture and Daddy G is concentrating on raising children. This exodus has left Robert Del Naja aka 3D as the only working band member.

Trying to fill the gap Del Naja has brought Sinead O'Connor into the mix for not one, not two, but three tracks.

The results are convincing and add an element not unlike the haunting collaboration with Cocteau Twins diva Liz Frazer on Mezzanine's Teardrop.

It would be unfair to judge whether this album is on a par with other Massive Attack records simply because they have always been at the head of the musical pack. Instead it suffices to say that this is another great Massive Attack album and well worth a listen.

Four Globes out of Five. ETM