Customer Reviews

Young Effectuals - The Helio Sequence

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've had these two young men's first disk since around when it came out and have waited for a new disk in the hopes that they would add more vocals and cut back on the lengthly 7 minute songs. My wish came true. The men are studio genius, they make some of the most wonderful loops in recent memory. I would suggest this disk to anyone who likes involving, spirling songs.

Whatever happened to cause the Helio Sequence to spawn this album must have been some ordeal. Every song deals with corporate masquerading, the drudgery of the daily grind and 70-hour work weeks with potently venomous lyrics. The fact that the social criticism is coupled with some of the most beautiful and densely layered pop music is the real accomplishment.

All of the songs float above your head with multiple melodies from bouncing bass, wailing guitars and synth squiggles, all of which combine to comprise a lush tapestry of sound.

"Echo Blomp" sounds like it is being rained down from Heaven's P.A. system while "Kablerium vs. Obliviousity" is a racing six minutes that could energize a corpse. My personal favorite is "Take Take Take," which is nearly two songs. The first 4 minutes is a cheary dirge that sounds like a spring meadow looks and the final 3:30 or so is a heartbreaking symphony done on synthesizer.

One magazine successfully described this album as a cross between the Beach Boys and British shoegazers like Spacemen 3, early Lush and My Bloody Valentine. If that sounds good to you, then there is no way you'll be disappointed by this album. Unconditionally recommended.

A friend of mine played The Helio Sequence for me and since then I haven't been able to get over them. This band is simply amazing, and they get better with every listen. These guys are musical mad scientists. The music is complex and demands you attention. And every time you listen you learn something new from it. This album is light years better than anything I've heard from indie-sensations Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Modest Mouse, The Shins...

This band deserves attention, they're awesome.

My first Helio Sequence album was "Love and Distance", and yes, that album is much 'cleaner' and has a more polished sound. However, this album helps one unravel what is at the heart of their music. Some may say that all of the songs are tied up in messy effects and echoes. While I do think each song is pretty busy, it provides a listening experience you aren't soon to find anywhere else.
You get your money's worth too, I feel. Almost all of the songs are over four minutes, many over five and six, and they develop nicely and are diverse songs.
This stuff is original, though, and for that, I give it four stars. The song "Cut the Camera" is perhaps one of the most original songs I've heard in a while. The style of this music is unmatched.
If you haven't bought any Helio Sequence before, pick up this one first. If you like it, you will find Love and Distance to be a sharp and trim version of all the things you enjoy about this group of two talented musicians.

I first heard of Helio Sequence through Brandon's dad, whom I have the privilage of knowing. All of the reviews I've read for this band have been quite positive, and there's a great reason. Normally, this isn't my style of music, but it's hard not to sit back and enjoy the mood Helio creates. Furthermore, Brandon and Ben did everything on the album themselves and that deserves some major props. Go out on a limb and check out a band you may not have considered before. If nothing else, do it to support some true musicians.

Helio Sequence is on the verge of becoming one of the underground's best sounds. Drawing elements from shoegazer bands like Rollerskate Skinny to Spiritualized-ish space rock, Helio Sequence have sort of a dark demeanor and attitude to them as well. Lyrics such as "We're not part of your little scene/ because we don't read your magazine" and "shut your face/know your place/go to school/get a job" give you the sense that guys are not your everyday ordinary kids and have a chip on their shoulder about it. That's what I like. Maybe you could say they are like a more spacey version of Six By Seven. Square Bubbles and Nothing's OK are very excellent tracks. If they can could craft a bit more melody or hooks in their instrumental parts on a mre consistent basis, Helio Sequence could possibly be on the verge of making maybe the greatest album ever. For now, they are "just" damn good. Their 1st album Com-plex is worth checking out as well.

I saw these guys at SxSW and was amazed at the amount of sound and energy they were able to generate for just two guys. I was impressed enough to pick up a copy of the CD at the show based largely on the song 'Cut the Camera' which is also the best song on the CD. Unfortunately, many of the songs get lost in a wash of synth-loops and other effects in a man v. machine struggle for control. The potential is certainly there once they gain enough confidence in their vocals and songwriting to let the songs and melodies breath a little more. Will they be given a chance?

I just saw "The Helio Sequence" the other day in a record store in downtown Portland, and I was completely blown away. I feel so lucky that I'm from Portland, in the way that I can just drive a few minutes to hear some great music instead of waiting for that certain band to go on tour and hoping they come to my town.
The music on this CD is well-balanced, with the perfect mix of complex melodies and...well, it just makes you feel good.
I wouldn't be surprised if this twosome became very famous someday. They deserve it, if that's what they want.