Reviews and press for Heligoland's self-titled EP, released in June 2000.
| Publication | Country/City | Date |
|---|---|---|
| The Original Sin Zine | Belgium | 1/6/02 |
| Splendid e-Zine | USA | 3/12/01 |
| Sadness is in the sky | Melbourne | 11/5/01 |
| Ozmusicproject | Sydney | |
| HR Magazine | Melbourne | 11/5/01 |
| Inpress | Melbourne | 2/5/01 |
| hEARd | Australia | 5/3/01 |
| Rockus | Perth | 1/3/01 |
| Inpress | Melbourne | 13/12/00 |
| Inpress | Melbourne | 27/9/00 |
HELIGOLAND Heligoland (Mini-cd) (Own Release)
They say miracles come unexpected and with Heligoland it wasn't that diffferent as just with all the other good bands I just discovered them by coincidence...or by clicking on a mouse as they say these days! But good, Heligoland are from Australia who were formed in 1999 but instead of telling everyone that they were the hottest band around they locked themselves up in their bedrooms refining their music which resulted in the first mini-cd containing 5 songs and it's a sort of indiedarkwave with a very classic sound...first there is the fragile sound of vocalist Karen Vogt that suits perfect with the minimalistic darkpop that can be compared with tindersticks, Mazzy Star, Cowboy Junkies or as someone else said the later works of Talk Talk. Reviews were all good and a year later Heligoland recorded a 7"inch and it's quite different....not that Heligoland suddenly have changed or so but the minimalistic sounds have been changed by fine 4-AD guitars (think Durutti Column or The Cocteaus), a sort of daydreaming soundscape and after those two songs you only have one advice for them, go back in the studio and record a whole album please, not that we deserve it but we just need it...
Heligoland
Self-titled
Self-released
Heligoland, a four-piece outfit from Victoria, Australia, are the sort of band that you'd expect to see under the 4AD banner. Slow, seductive and almost-shoegazey, they successfully avoid the pit of navel-gazing that many emulators (and some originators) of that particularly dreamy strand of music so frequently fall into. This exquisitely-packaged EP -- well, how many discs normally come in their own fabric slipcase, replete with button? -- just begs for a dark night and a warm radiator to do it justice. The music within drifts along, wavelike, but with a definite sense of direction: the tunes' basslines propel without dominating, allowing the sparse drumming and heavily echoed home-on-the-range slabs of slide to breathe, but never to the point where you feel rootless. There's a distinct purpose to these tunes, and though their initial meaning may seem unclear, they're maddeningly appealing; once in your player, this disc won't be coming out for a while.
Special mention has to be made of Karen Vogt's vocals. When she sings, it's with an ethereal, soaring tone -- almost kd lang-like, especially on "Kuro" -- that's miles away from the effects-laden whisper approach so often associated with this style of music. "Thunderbug" is home to a sublime vocalization -- a wordless, erotic moan of longing that surpasses almost anything I've heard, rising above a backing that never seems to intrude. It's this measured and sure approach that pulls the Heligoland package together. It oozes from the speakers with an assurance and a professionalism that's miles away from lo-fi slack. The five songs here are, quite simply, lovely. Lovers of gentle, thoughtful music take heart: Heligoland are utterly beautiful, and with the promise shown here, they deserve to be huge. -- Luke Martin
Heligoland EP
Easy lovin', easy listening; reminiscent of LOW, GALAXIE 500 and Cowboy Junkies, HELIGOLAND embrace both these sentiments and some truly angelic vocals on their thoughtfully packaged EP, their time in the studio has been well worth it.
Heligoland
Heligoland
Independent
This was certainly a classy surprise. Wrapped in a hand made cloth package came to me the latest Ep from Victorian 4-piece Heligoland. The content on the five track EP emanated similar class: a mixture of swirling, laid back and brooding atmospheric gems. Musically one could identify them to the blissful sounds of the now departed The Paradise Motel but surely Heligoland are in a league of their own.
Blissfully mellow, the EP starts out with 'Lo Scavo' with the picture completed nicely with very soft guitars, snare drum, heavenly vocals and a totally ambient backdrop. The slightly dark brooding nature of the songs is what attracts the most, and surely it's the band's biggest drawcard at that. The ambience of the release is such that the songs naturally flow into one another, so much so that it passes far too quickly.
This is definitely an EP that is perfect for that pensive emotionally strung kind-of-mood. Sit back, let it's soft waves wash over you and enjoy.
Jaz
Heligoland//Heligoland
>>Independent
Some CD's are a pleasure to review, this debut EP from Melbourne four piece Heligoland, is not only a pleasure to review, but an absolute joy to listen to and keep listening to. Gentle, harmonious and reflectively atmospheric, this EP is a pure delight. As with most independent releases, this EP may take some work to get hold of, but a successful search offers such a rich reward. Contact the band at heligoland@hotmail.com
Heligoland Lo Scavo Independent
Exploring the sunbaked, windswept plains of crawling, reverb/vibrato drenched guitar jangles and ethereal female vocals, Heligoland has earned comparisons to the Cowboy Junkies. This latest EP proves that not only can the band evoke gorgeous sound, they are also proficient songwriters. The opening track Lo Scavo, has the kind of guitar hook that you don't even feel entering your skin - but just try and remove it once embedded!
Martin Jones
Heligoland - (Self-Titled)
While not the sort of music any of the commercial stations would have the guts to play, Heligoland's debut 5 track EP is a hell of a lot more worthwhile than most of the throwaway stuff that's churned out on the top 40 charts in recent times.
Reminding me of the moodiness of bands such as The Dirty Three, Heligoland's sound is a somewhat dark & brooding collection of songs which all stand on their own merits, the production and positioning of the songs here becoming an almost continuation with each new song.
The opening track "Lo Scavo" is superb, with the amazing vocals of Karen Vogt really pulling the whole sound together, understated yet out there enough to let you know what's happening. Also brilliant is the second track in "Kuro", but the closing number "When I Look Into The Sun" really brings in the atmosphere & again plays the understated card wonderfully. This is a debut which the band can be very proud of & which listeners should be clamouring to get hold of.
Heligoland - Self titled
Independent
Review by Ben Leane
Rockus Rating: 6/10
The debut offering from four-piece Heligoland is very gentle, with five tracks that float along in a subtle manner. Seeming to draw influence from bands such as Augie March rather than more attention grabbing groups like Something For Kate, the band create an interesting atmosphere with their music. It is easy to become detached from the presence of it while listening, but manages to create a very peaceful mood nonetheless.
Opening track 'Lo Scavo' features a touch of slide guitar, and sounds sombre in nature. It moves at a relaxed pace and features a nice light rhythm section that adds to the momentum. However, the vocals tend to get lost amongst the guitars, and the lyrics are almost unheard due to the nature of Karen Vogt's voice. 'Kuro' suffers from the same problem and features minimal guitar and drum parts that are almost too simple without a powerful vocal presence. In fact, the vocals seem on the weak side for most of the EP and work much better in the form of another 'instrument' in the band, rather than as a feature trying to lift above the music. This is demonstrated in 'Thunderbug', featuring more intricate guitar work than found on 'Kuro' and only minimal vocals used as an accompaniment.
'Effortlessly' is by far the best track of the five, and has just enough emotion as well as the right balance of instruments to produce a pleasant song. 'When I Look Into The Sun' is so soft it's almost inaudible, but is somehow very relaxing in its simplicity.
Heligoland's EP isn't particularly anything out of the ordinary, and not appropriate for someone seeking breath-taking ballads. However, it is both atmospheric and unique - best heard over a quiet dinner and wine.
Single of the week
Heligoland Lo Scavo
Independent
Bathed in reverb and suffused with atmosphere, all five tracks here are superb. The carefully-arranged soft guitar backdrops embrace all the best things about Talk Talk, late-night Radiohead and much of the 4AD back catalogue, while strong, purposeful songs float on top. This is a band that knows all too well how to employ atmosphere without getting lost in the process; a very strong debut with a very minimalist cover design. Available from the band's website at http://travel.to/heligoland.
Anthony Horan
Release O' The Week
As smooth and haunting as the Cowboy Junkies but far too good to be called derivative are Heligoland. Their self-titled EP comes in a beautifully made cloth envelope and is very difficult to remove from your CD player once inserted. It's available at Greville Records and Polyester and probably at a few other fine record stores, but if you can't find it email them at heligoland@hotmail.com or visit their website at http://travel.to/heligoland. Then send your fan mail to PO Box 755A, Armadale, 3143.
Fred E. Gostein