This girl’s voice is captivating. It’s a soothing delivery, but it has an edge to it, which removes it from the likes of Katie Melua who couldn’t be less edgy. About as edgy as a watermelon. Anyway, enough about her – this is good stuff. It reminds me sort of like Belle & Sebastian in parts, only with a female vocalist, and that bodes well.
The lyrics aren’t particularly great, but I don’t think that’s the base appeal, the chord progressions and the aforementioned vocals take centre stage. I don’t want to sound like a tool (probably too late for that), but she could be singing about anything, about the times I cracked my head open as a kid, or the death of a family pet, to the musical backing of ‘International Klein Blue’ and I’d nod along appreciatively.
At times Helene’s voice has echoes of Nina Nastasia but Helene has more of a range (I’m sorry Nina, I still love you and stuff), and there are points in this album like the song ‘Helitrope’ where I’d normally be dismissive and call this bland or diluted but there’s something so edgy and slightly off about how the music is played that’s odd and enticing.
It’s not my favourite record in the world, by a long stretch, the production’s too squeaky clean for my liking (having said that, I can’t imagine this record being produced any differently) and there are moments where it’s a bit generic pop, bordering on Corrs-esque chord progressions but when this album is good, it’s really, really good, and that sort of makes up for it.
So many weird records this month, and another inconclusive review. Basically, I like it a lot but not that much? That helpful? Thought not.
Sorry.