Young Effectuals

Album Review

On their second album, the Helio Sequence essay a full swirl of two-man band sound, combining dense electric textures in which the voice is just another hazy element with atmospheric keyboards, guitar, and electronic effects. Indeed, the lyrics are about as hard to comfortably detect in the mix as they are to read in the sleeve, in which the type is so faded and the color scheme contrasted so that squinting is inevitable. The lyrics are general statements of alienated wishes for individuality that manage not to succumb to rage or rant. Comparisons to British bands like My Bloody Valentine, who crafted a similar wall of psychedelic post-punk, are inevitable, though the Helio Sequence are a little stronger in the variety and melodic harmony departments. It still does tend to wear away at one's attention, the songs blurring together into similar overall moods as the disc progresses. It's for those who like this kind of ambience as much or more than specific tunes. As some of those tunes and words have anthemic or dreamy (particularly in "Take, Take, Take") tones that aren't bad, it wouldn't be such a bad idea to give them more prominence in the mix.