Helium is the whopping fourth full-length Peter Sagars released since leaving his post as guitarist for Mac Demarcos touring band in 2014. The record sports more synths, keyboards and drum machines than any previous Homeshake album, demonstrating Sagars resilience as a songwriter with decreased reliance on his main instrument. Anyone already familiar with Sagars music – or Mackys slack indie pop, even – will find slipping into Heliums rich, hypercolor grooves quite effortless. Like the album title suggests, its a bit like experiencing familiar strains of smooth jazz, pop and R&B while sucking on a giant balloon, with sugary melodies inspired by Young Thug and modernist lyrics inspired by Haruki Murakamis surrealism. Riding the sparse saltwater trap of Anything At All, Sagar recites millennial credos like Everyone I know / lives in my cell phone and I should probably put this down / I dont need a thing right now with a single detuned snare pulling double duty for an absentee kick drum and a bassline that only surfaces during the hook. Next, on lead single Like Mariah, a big cartoony MIDI slap bass straight out of Dean Blunts book propels Sagar‘s crooning in trademark Mimi falsetto style. Nothing Could Be Better, Just Like My, Other Than, (Secret Track) and the vintage Triple 6 vibes of All Night Long are also in heavy rotation here in the Lab office. Comes with download code and printed insert, recommended.
- black vinyl pressing
- printed insert
- digital download included
- music label:Sinderlyn 2019
reviewed bywinston wolf 02/2019
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