Helene - Heliotrope
by Mark Rowland
published: 29 / 1 / 2009
Label:
Pronoia Records
Format: CD
intro
Agreeable dreamy and country influenced indie rock on fifth album from London-based group, Helene
'Heliotrope' sounds just as you expect it to sound the moment you set eyes on its cover. This is not a bad thing necessarily – sometimes you're just not in the mood for surprises. Helene Dineen and her band create dreamy, country inflected indie that smacks faintly of Mazzy Star and Cat Power at its best. It's nothing new, but it is certainly a pleasant listen – a good record to put on while you work. 'O What a Mess', the second track on the album, is the first to really stick out, a fuller version of 'You Are Free' era Cat Power. 'International Klein Blue' floats along sunnily, but the title track is a bit so close to Mazzy Star's Fade Into You that a plagiarism lawsuit isn't too far around the the corner. That track aside, 'Heliotrope 'manages to create a varied palate of moods with a generally limited genre, from the upbeat jangle of 'Stitches' to the simple folk of 'Brandy' and 'Belle Night'.
Track Listing:-
1 Escalator Carry You to the Stars2 O What a Mess
3 International Klein Blue
4 Heliotrope
5 Stitches
6 Rubber Room
7 Waterlow
8 Come the Dead End
9 Yesterday's Girl
10 Brandy and Belle Night
11 Pills
Label Links:-
http://www.pronoia-records.com/PR/Content/Home.aspx
interviews |
|
Interview (2006) |
|
| Formed out of the ashes of late 90’s indie group the Barefoot Contessa, atmospheric London band Helene have just released their second album 'Routines' which was produced by former Cocteau Twin Simon Raymonde. Singer Helene Dineen talks to John Clarkson |
reviews |
|
Routines (2006) |
|
| Musically diverse, evocative second album from North London-based band Helene, produced by former Cocteau Twins member Simon Raymonde |
most viewed articles
current edition
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every SongArmory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Colin Blunstone - Thalia Hall, Chicago, 16/7/2025
Bathers - Photoscapes 1
Visor Fest - Valencia, Spain, 26/9/2025...27/9/2025
John McKay - Interview
Billie Eilish - O2 Arena, London, 10/7/2025
Robert Forster - Interview
Loft - Interview
Sir Tim Rice - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Phew, Erika Kobayashi,, Dieter Moebius - Radium GirlsAmy Macdonald - Is This What You've Been Waiting For?
Sick Man of Europe - The Sick Man of Europe
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the Jumbo
Cynthia Erivo - I Forgive You
Lucy Spraggan - Other Sides of the Moon
Bush - I Beat Loneliness
Alice Cooper - The Revenge of Alice Cooper
Blueboy - 2
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart