Heathen Harvest review | November 15 2008 | Genre: Electro / Downtempo / Post Rock / Pop

Keep Away From Heat - Helium Bliss

From the distant Serbian land, specifically located in Belgrade comes Predrag Nedic, leader and creator of the darkwave band PNDC and member of the electro ambient duo Erogenius. Predrag took a break on his current line of thought and art direction and decided to approach to music under a different and perhaps more intimate perspective. Being about classic ambient electronica with a minimalistic touch and very sensual/nostalgic form, this new side project called “Keep away from heat” saw the light of the day. The album titled after "Helium bliss" describes the mood of the record perfectly, ethereal, moody, at times cold and distant but lushly. There is an additional features present in the record, the help from Athanassious Vavaroutas from the Greek band Housework and the talented and sensual female vocalist Marina Skiadaresi from Shadowlike. Electronica Yugoslavian (Formerly Serbian) label Ammonite Records was at charge of the album release in a very consequential minimalist art work design.

KAFH is an interesting mixture. First thing that cannot be neglected is the reminiscence from the style and mood from the classic 90’s epoch, these influences are not solely related with electronic acts or ambient fame but also rock settings, being rooted in the ethereal & post rock camp considerably. As reference we could name something along the way from the more ambient less rhythmic side of Aphex Twin, obviously without converting in an exact copy with some post rock excerpts put through. The beat section is rhythmically paced but not transcending the contemplative state it does presents. Cold and synthetic submerged in the sweetness that only the old electronic pop from the mid eighties could bring and sprinkled with occasional modern beat breaks and voice samplers clearly stepping its way into trip-hop distilling nostalgic feelings and absent thoughts with hypnotic effects that rapidly takes the listener in a calmed stance a good example on this is the song “Tear me apart” with additional help coming from Athanassious Vavaroutas.

The pop content is fully perceivable and essential in the form of the whole work, uncertainly old styled but at the same time extremely futuristic. The music evocations are melancholic but not depressive, perhaps more introspective and at times narrative, like a continuous flood of memories coming along. Second track "Everything... Senseless" its a perfect example on this, moody, harmonic and groovy. Although the sequencers and drum machines are set to present a minimalist approach, the dynamism of the music takes over and keeps a dynamic constant that is both entertaining and prominent, provoking the heart beat of the listener and keeping the distance from the danceable section. Some guitar chords and arrangements are introduced during the songs but they are well camouflaged behind the core of electronics and synthetic arrangements, only full listening attention will reveal its location, this subtle details are probably the cause of some of the groovyness of the album. Vocalizations are limited to samplers and only one detailed sung piece “Rainbow drops” that features Greek female singer: Marina Skiadaresi.

This song is ambient alike with strong ethereal undertones and the siren like voice from the singer, dreamy and aerial, contrasting with the previous section of the album full of catchy melodies and harmonics. The album ends with another catchy tune "The things that aren’t funny", with additional electronic playfulness and somehow nostalgic background with a resigned attitude.

The music is comfy and smartly done, equally well composed and mixed with a clear predilection for harmonics and the distribution of simple but effective beat sections. Style is kind of retro attached to the lines of the classic Warp label, as a matter of fact this band could be perfectly included in there and could be at hand with many of the classic bands in there, or perhaps it could be compared to a more sweet and melancholic electro pop minority from the mid 90’s (The sweet melancholy from "Future Bible Heroes" comes to my mind for example). I heard not flaws or unnecessary plots, the minimalism contributes to this condition and adds an extra of sincerity giving the idea of something uncompromised but equally entertaining and sensible. Cool music for the end of a day.