Review Summary: Helen Earth Band create atmospheric, hooky indie rock that sticks in your head for hours on end.
I discovered Helen Earth Band by random chance, and boy am I glad I did. I attended a show in downtown Los Angeles at a small, packed art gallery and they were one of the opening acts. Not knowing what to expect, I was immediately blown away by the huge sound coming from this no name quartet from San Diego as soon as the first chords were struck. Marc and Adam Allen, formerly of Finch and Counterfit respectively, played deceptively complex guitar lines that interwove with each other with fluid grace and ease. This, combined with layered vocals and tasteful drums made for quite an impressive peformance. I was immediately sold. They were handing out free download cards, and I happily took one after realizing I had not brought enough cash to the show to buy their CD.
Once the album was downloaded and put on my iPod, it never left my playlist for about a month straight. Beginning with the opener, Shakencutt, immediately a sense of urgency is heard as the angular guitars and drums lock in tightly and the bass subtly floats in the background, adding a perfect layer of melody and providing solid foundation for the guitars to explore. The song shifts into a chorus that changes time signatures multiple times, while the Allen Bros. trade soft and subdued yet powerful vocals. The lyrics at first come across as somewhat silly, as the guitarists croon:
Walking underwater, breathing through a straw
At first somewhat put off by this odd line, upon reading the album lyrics the seemingly thoughtless words take their place in the lyrics as a whole. This trend continues throughout the album, and the writing is mature and reflective. Never melodramatic yet still emotional, subtlety is the trademark of this CD. The lyrics provoke thought and reveal deep poetic beauty in a way that is not immediately apparent.
The drumming is quite impressive, yet again in a deceptively complex and subtle manner. At first listen they come off as straightforward and run-of-the-mill, but like most great albums this one has many layers and cannot be fully digested and appreciated in one listen. The drums actually have very creative accents and catchy beats that never overstep their bounds but complement the jangly guitars perfectly with tight bass lines synchronized throughout.
Another touch to this album that really moved me was the electronic additions that are very effectively and sparingly placed. Sparse keyboard adds just the right amount of texture and harmony while never grabbing too much attention. Tracks that this is most apparent on are "Open Hand" and "(We All) Talk With Knives". There is also a fair amount of sampling going on, from the well-placed spoken word sound clips on "Open Hand" to the epic, swelling and majestically gorgeous synth at the end of "Our Own Ghost City".
All in all, I am completely blown away that such a little known band has created a powerful, deep and mature album in their debut. Helen Earth Band shows maturity that usually only comes with years of honing a groups particular sound, and they have hit the nail on the head with Our Own Ghost City. It leaves the listener wanting more, and creates anticipation to see how the band progresses on their next album. I for one am waiting anxiously.
