The first two
Helios releases on
Ghostly International,
Veriditas and
Domicile, were two of the project's most purely ambient recordings, consisting of patient, beatless compositions designed for reflective home listening.
Espera brings back the downtempo beats and wistful acoustic guitar melodies of past
Helios records, filtered through a mini-cassette recorder to give it a nostalgic warble. Opener "Fainted Fog" is more energetic than expected, at first bringing to mind
Tycho's more cinematic moments, then switching the mood a bit with the addition of dubby half-time beats and more intimate-sounding guitars. The rest of the album continues in this active but supremely chilled-out mode. It can function as relaxing background music, but take a closer listen and there's far more happening than it might seem on the surface. "All the While" shifts between subtly tricky beat patterns, harp-like melodies, and guitars fit for rolling credits, visiting a different place every minute but retaining a sense of continuity. "Lineoa" approaches a psychedelic new age vibe with twinkling guitars, chimes, and a haze of flutes and cosmic synths. "A Familiar Place" is more playful, with curling flute trills and a slightly cumbia-esque rhythm, gradually swelling to a more elevated feeling. "Lowland" is a sort of stirring ambient waltz, and the dramatic mood carries over into the frayed, stormy "Well Within." The comforting aura returns with the blissful sighs of "Emeralds," and the album fades to sleep with the gentle cuddle of "Rounds." ~ Paul Simpson
