|
 HELMS-
The Swimmer (Kimchee
Records) Of the four CDs I am reviewing for this issue, Helms
definitely reigns supreme! These guys actually play music! Remember music?
The Swimmer is a very instrumental work. Helms builds songs note by note
in the same way an artist creates a magnificent painting one subtle brush
stroke at a time. Helms has a clean captivating sound, effective without
distortion, like the Smashing Pumpkins in their quieter moments. Slow
textured notes build like raindrops and then climax with chords lending
thunder to the drizzlescape. Suddenly I wish I had mood lighting. (Note to
self: buy lava lamp). The vocals are VERY Lou Reed-like (translation:
deadpan). Sometimes they are moody and spoken in near whispers like Roger
Waters. But Helms is not consumed with chaos and nuclear war like Mr.
Waters. Instead, they sing about playing Pac Man in an Italian bus station
while the sun beats down. The vibrato of guitar, bass, and tinny drums
suck you in to their weird and psychedelic world. Each track doesn't end
in the conventional sense. This is more like Pink Floyd, King Crimson, or
Radiohead where every note could suddenly turn and explode on you or
rudely dissipate away just when you were enjoying it. "The Smallest
World in the World" is definitely a highlight. It starts with rolling
guitar that is echo-ey and liquid, smooth and jazzy. The minimalist vocal
style is just enough, peeking over the sensual flow of the notes. Moments
of silence add to the hypnotic nature of this song. Later on
"Teenagers in the Woods" there are intricate flowery trills of
guitar notes repeated like some alien Morse code. "Io" is stark
and lonely, and ends in a decay of feedback. "Candy Fish" has a
marching slow steady beat, electric guitar crashing chord or two, and
vocals that emulate Marty Wilson-Piper of The Church. Thought went into
these pieces resulting in a brooding, complex, thought provoking opus. If
Helms were an acronym it might stand for Hypnotic, Enigmatic, Lush, and
Meandering; and if I were a betting man I'd put my all my chips on Helms
at the roulette table. -Tony Gerardi
|
