So far, everything new we’ve heard/seen from Massive Attack, the Led Zeppelin of dark downtempo grooves, has been brilliant – from the amazing “Pray For Rain” featuring TV On The Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe to the waaaaaay NSFW video for the song “Paradise Circus”, which also has a great vocal from Mazzy Star chanteuse Hope Sandoval. So it’s no surprise that the limited vinyl edition of Massive Attack’s “Splitting The Atom” e.p. – its only physical would be so artistic and collectable.

Limited to 1,000 copies, individually numbered, and pressed on 180 gram vinyl (the highest possible quality for a record), this edition of “Splitting The Atom” is a class package worth whatever it will garner on eBay, certainly… What it makes the whole thing transcendent, however, is the cover art print from a painting by Massive Attack member Robert Del Naja, aka “3D.” Del Naja’s visual work resembles Francis Bacon remixed by Banksy (this is meant as a compliment), so it’s no wonder he’s been making waves on the gallery scene as well. Taken together, it just makes us long for the 2010 release of Massive Attack’s next, much-anticipated full-length album. We’ll be sure to pick that up on vinyl, too…