![]() ![]() It is demonstrative of the duo’s dedication to their work, as Summers has successfully overcome an obstacle that most vocalists would consider a career-ending plague. The Helio Sequence’s fourth album, Keep Your Eyes Ahead, is impressive in so many more ways than a listener without background knowledge of the band would even begin to comprehend. As he recalls, “Going into 2005 I actually had to think, ‘If I lose my voice, what will I do?'” Eventually though, it got to a point where he could not carry on. At one point, he resisted talking during daylight to save his vocal energy for gigs at night. Alongside the likes of Modest Mouse, Blonde Redhead, and Kings of Leon, The Helio Sequence chugged on as Summers’ vocal chords grew weaker and weaker as he attempted to wash the pain away with songwriting and whiskey. The beginnings of Summers’ vocal difficulties can be traced back to a lengthy six month stretch of shows after the release of Love and Distance. Jumping to such a prominent label meant an onslaught of back-to-back shows along with other media obligations, eventually taking its toll on Summers both vocally and mentally. About a year earlier, the duo had signed with the prestigious Sub Pop label, releasing their third album (and Sub Pop debut), Love and Distance, a few months later. After all, after nearly a decade of playing together, Summers and best friend/keyboardist/drummer Benjamin Weikel had finally hit the big time. As half of the Oregon-based duo, The Helio Sequence, he retrospectively knew that the precautions would be necessary. Though Brandon Summers will always have his skills as a guitarist to fall back on, one can only imagine how he felt when a doctor informed him in 2005 that he would lose his voice if he did not take an immediate break from singing. 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.Taking a voice away from a vocalist is like taking away a pen from a writer, a brush from a painter, and the means necessary to express genuine ideals from any type of artist. It's for those who like this kind of ambience as much or more than specific tunes. It still does tend to wear away at one's attention, the songs blurring together into similar overall moods as the disc progresses. ![]() 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. The lyrics are general statements of alienated wishes for individuality that manage not to succumb to rage or rant. ![]() 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. 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. ![]()
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