Record Review: Mokira

Mokira
Persona
[2009, Type]
2.5/5

Full review HERE. Far too much ado is made about “analog warmth,” as if recording fidelity somehow equates to authenticity and overall quality. For those not convinced that warm, natural sounds can be generated with “cold” digital techniques, get yourself a copy of Gas’ Pop album or any of Christian Fennesz’ recent output, particularly his collaborations with Ryuichi Sakamoto. Certainly there is a different character to analog sound (not to mention the benefits in sound preservation and relative autonomy), but from a songwriting standpoint, reliance on analog equipment as a shtick will likely return less-than-satisfactory results...

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Spotlight: Grouper

Grouper is Liz Harris, from the impossibly hip Portland, Oregon. It's a dreary, rainy day in Tallahassee, the kind of day that's perfect for sitting in bed and listening to music like this. Harris sounds alternately like a scared little girl and a siren, both wandering through a foggy clearing in the woods. The very creepy cover is a perfect visual accompaniment to the music inside. Acoustic guitar, nearly indecipherable lyrics, and occasional piano, all drowned with reverb. It took me a few listens to warm up to this one, but it gets better each time. Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill is pretty simple and straightforward, but incredibly effective. Though I have no idea what she's singing about, it's an intensely emotional record.


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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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