Eingya

This is US-based Keith Kenniff's second full-length release as Helios, following his incredible alias Goldmund album, Corduroy Road. Eingya is very different from his work as Goldmund, as it incorporates not only his piano playing, but his delicate touch on guitar, drums and his masterful electronic production. It is an album of wordless songs, eleven carefully measured movements, each holding inside it an entire movie's worth of emotion. Beginning the album on a high with the pastoral beauty of 'Bless This Morning Year,' we witness a showcase of what Kenniff does best; heartbreaking guitar and piano melodies punctuated by crumbling beats and backed by the most atmospheric synthesizer sounds this side of Eno's 'Apollo.' Moving on, we are treated to the appetizing 'Halving The Compass,' which blends subtle field recording with piano melodies so beautiful they could be compared to Virginia Astley or Harold Budd. This is followed by the album's clear highlight -- 'Dragonfly Across An Ancient Land;' an unsurpassable folk guitar piece with a decomposing percussive background and the sort of melodies that would turn evil tyrants into weeping babies. This is an album which could as easily appeal to fans of Nick Drake as well as Boards of Canada or even early Air; this truly has something for everyone. To put it simply -- it's gorgeous.