With a full, and yet, especially serene atmosphere, the entire album seems like one song evolving to another, in a post rock ambient stream of divine ascendency, heading towards a mysterious path bounded by an unknown strain of sagacious intensity. Characterized by a calmness very uncommon to God is an Astronaut, Helios Erebus presents us a much more composite and restrained sound, being at the same time curiously expansive in the tranquility that presents itself completely available to the listener. And yet, the melodies that evolve from such harmonious ascendency are so beautifully organized, and so behaved in the way the arrangements present themselves as they dissolve in the serenity of the dreamscape lucid atmospheres, that you can really think you are on an ascending journey towards the unknown. But this is in fact GIAA, doing what they do best: create composite atmospheres and descending layers of sound, in all of its undeniable beauty, and harmlessly presenting themselves to the listener, as an album majestically intuitive, that interacts wonderfully with the emotions of the listener.
With eight increasingly solid and formidable tracks, as to know, Agneya, Pig Powder, Vetus Memoria, Finem Solis, Helios Erebus, Obscura Somnia, Centralia and Sea Of Trees, Helios | Erebus redefines the vibrating transcendent electricity usually heard on GIAA’s previous albums. Nonetheless, it sets some new – although subtle – elements into their music, that makes them step in new territory, and thrive a new way regarding their art, yet impressively holding their sensibility concerning what they are doing.
With a somewhat different atmosphere of sound – that sometimes cracks in the slits and gaps of its notes traditional rock’n’roll and hard rock influences –, never leaving uncompromised their distinct and intriguing proposal of calmness, serenity and transcendence, Helios | Erebus is one of the most different God is an Astronaut albums to date, setting their style into a different pattern of configuration, by redefining and challenging the nature and the characteristic physiology of their music, which is something present also in the time of the tracks, with shorter songs, not as long as post rock songs normally are. With its soundscape dream-like transcendence, well restrained outlook on creativity and shape, daring attitude in leaving their usual common ground to try something new – without losing their identity – and a serene, yet marvelous takeout on its straightforward musical elements, Helios | Erebus certainly is a magnificent and meritorious piece of work. Which makes me say quite enthusiastically: Long life to Irish Post Rock [in general] and God is an Astronaut [in particular].
Wagner