By Pam Sternin
You said you like this band? Well, get ready to love them. Helms Alee’s long awaited release, Sleepwalking Sailors is finally nigh and it’s an amazing (as usual) listen. The first two songs, “Pleasure Center” and “Tumescence” are a rocking, energetic and powerful push right out the gate followed by “Pinniped” and “Dangling Modifiers” returning us to the classic Helms Alee we know and love. I get the same feeling listening to this album as I did when I first heard Sonic Youth’s Sister. Captivated by all the musical layering, identifying immediately with the feeling behind the songs. Helms Alee are the answer to a question you never thought to ask, their sound is surprising.
The gang vocals of this trio are always mesmerizing and this album highlights that aspect more than ever. Whether it’s all together or just Hozoji Margullis (drums/vocals) and Dana James (bass/vocals) you can’t help but feel drawn in. Songs like “Heavy Worm Burden” starts off dreamy with Ben Verellen (guitar/vocals) singing us a bedtime story only erupting into this mountain high heaviness of a pummeling melody giving you a foothold to latch onto as you climb into an air raid siren sounding riff where Margullis verbally warns the rest of the tale. “Slow Beef” starts off with this momentary spaghetti western intro gliding into almost two minutes of soothing volume swells over an undercurrent guitar riff distantly glittering and looping in the background before the drums even kick in. Sturdy and heavy fuzzed guitar/bass bust through the moment James’ spellbinding vocals call out. And the way this bitchin’ whip of a riff climbs towards the end, goddamn. These songs are fucking clever.
You know what makes a great band? It’s that tangible, psychic connection that comes from playing together for so long and being completely vulnerable to one another. Here we have three best friends that happen to be incredible musicians of which we are so fortunate to share in their creation. Sometimes you don’t have words to describe something to someone, I suffer from this often. As much as I’ve tried here to legibly decipher what Sleepwalking Sailors sounds like I still feel like it’s impossible to wholly convey in words. Since the telepathic pill hasn’t been invented yet (and no, psychedelics are not recognized by the FDA as a substitute for said pill) all I can say is you have to hear the album from beginning to end and feel the energy. Just crank it, lay on your floor and close your eyes. It’s a gift.
Your chance to see Helms Alee and pick up Sleepwalking Sailors is this weekend! Celebrate their record release show with special guests Sandrider, Bali Girls and Survival Knife February 1st at Neumos.
