Keith Kenniff's second effort as
Helios may take a few fans of his other alias,
Goldmund, by surprise. Even those who have heard his first
Helios full-length (Unomia) will be getting something slightly different, since
Eingya moves deeper into post-rock territory. This album is about moods -- digitally constructed moods, yes, but these constructions are powered by typical moody post-rock fuel: delicate piano, soft-spoken guitar, and laid-back drums. That's what the opener, "Bless This Morning Year," is all about and it sets the tone right from the start. "Dragonfly Across an Ancient Sky" is another very strong track in that vein. "Coast Off" offers something slightly different, with choppy computer vocals and an African choir sample running seductively in the background. More ambient, "First Dream Called Ocean" evokes
Arve Henriksen's foggy universe. Some field recordings are carefully used throughout the album, and the track list has obviously been sequenced in order to lull listeners into a comfort zone and leave them there. On first listen,
Eingya evokes a lot of post-rock bands (and not the worst of them), even though it actually sits somewhere between that genre and a melodic form of experimental ambient. In any case, the music lacks some character to truly leave a mark, but it provides a wonderful listening experience nevertheless. ~ François Couture