Record Review: Helios

Helios
Caesura
[2008, Type]
3.5/5

Full review HERE. This is the second work I've reviewed by the Boston based multi-instrumentalist Keith Kenniff. I was pretty unimpressed with the latest Goldmund release, but really liked a lot of his last album under the Helios guise, 2006's Eingya. Caesura definitely has some tracks worth merit, and as a whole is very pretty, but doesn't satisfy. It's lovely aural wallpaper, but ultimately doesn't reward close-listening any more than background-music listening.
If you happen to stumble across this post, Keith, I want you to know that I respect your work, and that you're recordings all sound great. But they need more focus and shouldn't wander so much. Of course, this is just one critic's opinion.
If anybody has a different take on this album, I'd love to discuss.

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Record Review: Goldmund

Goldmund

Malady of Elegance

[2008, Type Records]

2.5/5

At long last, another of my reviews was posted on Tiny Mixtapes. Read it here. It's an album of stark piano pieces, fragile to the point of breaking. This is very often beautiful, but homogeneity kills the album, as the songs' tempi fall mostly within largo territory. Worth checking out if you want something to put on while doing homework/studying/sleeping/cooking/other mundane task. Ok, that was too harsh. Half of these pieces are really great, and should be sought out. Recommended tracks: "Image-Autumn-Womb," "Apalachee," "Clement Danes," and "Evelyn." 

Overall, I think the musician (Keith Kenniff) should stick to his Helios project. Eingya had many lovely songs, and his latest (which I'm getting shipped to me soon...) Caesura will (hopefully) be good as well.

I have a review waiting to be posted that I gave a 4/5, so I don't want you to think I'm some curmudgeonly snob. Also, if you're looking for a really great piano-centric album, I highly recommend Hauschka's latest, Ferndorf.

My favorite track from that one is "Neuschnee." It's got an almost Bill Evans-y sensibility about it.