Browse by Artist: HELIOS

Artist:	HELIOS
Title:	Eingya
Label:	TYPE (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	TYPE 011CD

This is US-based Keith Kenniff's second full-length release as Helios, following his incredible alias Goldmund album, Corduroy Road. Eingya is very different from his work as Goldmund, as it incorporates not only his piano playing, but his delicate touch on guitar, drums and his masterful electronic production. It is an album of wordless songs, eleven carefully measured movements, each holding inside it an entire movie's worth of emotion. Beginning the album on a high with the pastoral beauty of "Bless This Morning Year," we witness a showcase of what Kenniff does best; heartbreaking guitar and piano melodies punctuated by crumbling beats and backed by the most atmospheric synthesizer sounds this side of Eno's "Apollo." Moving on, we are treated to the appetizing "Halving The Compass," which blends subtle field recording with piano melodies so beautiful they could be compared to Virginia Astley or Harold Budd. This is followed by the album's clear highlight -- "Dragonfly Across An Ancient Land;" an unsurpassable folk guitar piece with a decomposing percussive background and the sort of melodies that would turn evil tyrants into weeping babies. This is an album which could as easily appeal to fans of Nick Drake as well as Boards of Canada or even early Air; this truly has something for everyone. To put it simply -- it's gorgeous.

Artist:	HELIOS
Title:	Ayres
Label:	TYPE (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.50
Catalog #:	TYPE 028CD

It hasn't been long since Keith Kenniff's gorgeous collection of gauzy, cinematic sound-poems, Eingya slipped into the consciousness. In a short space of time, the Boston-based multi-instrumentalist has become awash with acclaim and been invited to perform numerous live dates around Europe, something which gave life and inspiration to this latest collection of work. Those who managed to catch him on the most recent tour will already be aware that Keith has just taken up his most breathtaking instrument yet -- his voice, and Ayres is his first exploration of this new-found talent. Eingya managed with the simplest of means to show just how crushing Keith's songwriting was, but here he pieces together five gorgeous "songs" and one inspired cover with devastating results. Combining his many musical loves, Keith manages somehow to bring in the warring elements of indie-pop, experimental electronics, folk and world music, resulting in a sound which is distinctly his own; these might be songs in the traditional sense, but there's little traditional about the way they have been produced. Decaying synthesizer sounds trip up over carefully strummed guitars and expertly carved percussion -- take opening track "A Rising Wind," which is maybe the most effortless display of Keith's talents; this is a slow burning epic, beginning with the simplest of sound-palettes and growing into a jubilant dream-pop masterpiece. Elsewhere, standout track "The Obeisant Vine" blends the hazy nostalgic electronics of Brian Eno with the songwriting heart of The Innocence Mission, leaving you gasping for more. By the time the mini-album ends with a cover of "In Heaven," that song from David Lynch's seminal Eraserhead, you realize you have spent half an hour in Helios' world, and it's a world you'll want to escape to again and again.

Artist:	HELIOS
Title:	Ayres
Label:	TYPE (UK)
Format:	LP
Price:	$12.50
Catalog #:	TYPE 028LP

LP version. It hasn't been long since Keith Kenniff's gorgeous collection of gauzy, cinematic sound-poems, Eingya slipped into the consciousness. In a short space of time, the Boston-based multi-instrumentalist has become awash with acclaim and been invited to perform numerous live dates around Europe, something which gave life and inspiration to this latest collection of work. Those who managed to catch him on the most recent tour will already be aware that Keith has just taken up his most breathtaking instrument yet -- his voice, and Ayres is his first exploration of this new-found talent. Eingya managed with the simplest of means to show just how crushing Keith's songwriting was, but here he pieces together five gorgeous "songs" and one inspired cover with devastating results. Combining his many musical loves, Keith manages somehow to bring in the warring elements of indie-pop, experimental electronics, folk and world music, resulting in a sound which is distinctly his own; these might be songs in the traditional sense, but there's little traditional about the way they have been produced. Decaying synthesizer sounds trip up over carefully strummed guitars and expertly carved percussion -- take opening track "A Rising Wind," which is maybe the most effortless display of Keith's talents; this is a slow burning epic, beginning with the simplest of sound-palettes and growing into a jubilant dream-pop masterpiece. Elsewhere, standout track "The Obeisant Vine" blends the hazy nostalgic electronics of Brian Eno with the songwriting heart of The Innocence Mission, leaving you gasping for more. By the time the mini-album ends with a cover of "In Heaven," that song from David Lynch's seminal Eraserhead, you realize you have spent half an hour in Helios' world, and it's a world you'll want to escape to again and again.

Artist:	HELIOS
Title:	Caesura
Label:	TYPE (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.50
Catalog #:	TYPE 042CD

Boston-based multi-instrumentalist Keith Kenniff has been with Type from the very beginning, and now as Type is well into its fifth year, he offers his fifth gorgeous release. The five years have seen Keith's style evolve constantly -- from his drifting piano compositions under his Goldmund alias, to the Helios sound moving out from underneath the clipped beat-heavy electronics of Unomia and into a more unique place, even incorporating vocals on the Ayres mini album. Caesura, however, is a "proper" follow-up to the acclaimed Eingya, and sees Keith return to the instrumental sound he knows so well. In fact, in many ways Caesura is a more electronic work than its predecessors, blending layer upon layer of synthesizer and adding his assured drumming to come up with the perfect meeting of indie-pop and ambient music. The haunting cinematic element is still present of course, but these songs are more rounded and confident than any in Keith's career. From the delicate bliss of "Hope Valley Hill" which opens up the album with gauzy nostalgia and, as the title promised, hope, through the chunky pop of "Come With Nothings," it is clear that Keith's music is as arresting as it ever was. Taking cues from the lilting indie-electronics of Ulrich Schnauss and the unfussy ambience of Brian Eno, Keith manages to inject this with his knowledge as a composer. The epic harmonies of "Backlight," for instance, reveal a lightness of touch rarely heard in the genre, with sweeping synthesized chords buzzing alongside Keith's signature guitar. Accompanied by more gorgeous artwork from Matthew Woodson, Caesura is a glowing record for the winter months, and a glimmer of hope to keep the harsher seasons at bay.

Artist:	HELIOS
Title:	Caesura
Label:	TYPE (UK)
Format:	LP
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	TYPE 042LP

LP version. Boston-based multi-instrumentalist Keith Kenniff has been with Type from the very beginning, and now as Type is well into its fifth year, he offers his fifth gorgeous release. The five years have seen Keith's style evolve constantly -- from his drifting piano compositions under his Goldmund alias, to the Helios sound moving out from underneath the clipped beat-heavy electronics of Unomia and into a more unique place, even incorporating vocals on the Ayres mini album. Caesura, however, is a "proper" follow-up to the acclaimed Eingya, and sees Keith return to the instrumental sound he knows so well. In fact, in many ways Caesura is a more electronic work than its predecessors, blending layer upon layer of synthesizer and adding his assured drumming to come up with the perfect meeting of indie-pop and ambient music.

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