Agree with Daveh75, the more you listen, the better it gets - a real grower. Starting to really love it.
IMHO, it's not better or worse than Mezzanine, just different - similar to comparing Bowie's Low & Heroes - Heligoland is more multi-layered & multi-textural, & slightly disjointed in parts. And wow, what a stunning production/mix/sound.
Saw them at Hammersmith last night - awesome. God I hate them - talented, cool, witty AND full of humility! Was a nice touch to dedicate Unfinished Symphony to Alexander McQueen. Martine, Horace et al were also all in fine form + Damon Albarn was a guest vocalist for his Heligoland stuff. Of Heligoland's tracks, the 11min version of Atlas Air was particularly epic & hypnotic - extra guitar power chords & a very rousing/driving multi-instumental, mid-point crescendo. And 10/10 to the lady who threw a shot of water at the noisy, bumptious gnome who wouldn't stop talking.
[EDIT]: Atlas Air, Hammersmith 11/02/2010 (not my clip, sound is a bit 'thin' & ignore the jabbering tw*ts at the start):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg8dKTzhO5A
What a great year for new releases: Heligoland, Bowie's A Reality Tour & on Monday Peter Gabriel's Scratch My Back arrives. In this era of Simon Cowell-produced tat, Messrs Marshall, Del Naja, Bowie & Gabriel actually make you feel proud to be British.