Four years removed from Keep Your Eyes Ahead, The Helio Sequence returns. The well-received 2008 album was cause for bold predictions for this Portland-based duo, yet the lapse has undone much of the excitement thought possible for the alternative rockers. Bandmates Brandon Summers and Benjamin Weikel appear unaware that the strain of time could harm attention and reputation. Their fifth studio album, Negotiations, tastes well-aged rather than drawn out. Mature and deliberate when most expect such a hiatus to produce a sound more forced and rushed.
Take your time. March to the beat of your own drum. Deep breaths. “Hall of Mirrors” plays out like an ambassador for such sentiments. A rallying cry for a pause; a pause to step back and search for the answer to our most fundamental question. Such a strikingly deep mood is quite the accomplishment for a single. Yet take a look at the accompanying music video and tell me The Helio Sequence isn’t in a heightened state of mind. Or that Summers and Weikel feel they are short on time. Or that the Oregonians feel pressured into releasing an LP by label Sub Pop or by their fans or the community. If the video is any indication, this group knows they can’t outrun their destiny and that regardless of the ride or its direction, they’ll always arrive at the same dark, strange, silent cowboy. Wait, what? That was going somewhere important and got sidetracked.
Reboot.
The Helio Sequence understands their place in the universe. One listen through Negotiations and you feel significantly microscopic in this world. Able to make a difference, yet predestined to end up haunted by car tires no matter where you turn. Shit, hold up – car tires? How does the song… what’s the meaning of the… does the cowboy? is it a metaphor for? … this group is heavy. The song is a calming mental escape and the video a masterfully crafted and well-put-together story. The scenes are gorgeous and the cinematography breathtaking. From a desert gorge to a raging fire, “Hall of Mirrors” captivates and enlightens. Just don’t expect it to also make sense.