Helios - Espera

Helios' Espera, released on August 11, 2023, marks a return to the project's earlier, electronic-laced days, blending ambient textures with downtempo rhythms and acoustic instrumentation. The album balances engagement and contemplation with a billowing accessible lightness, revealing Helios at a compelling intersection, composing songs as vivid and three-dimensional as they are characteristically modernist and understated. Tracks like "Fainted Fog" and "Intertwine" showcase this blend, with woozy synths, propulsive drum patterns, and meditative strums mingling with keys. Kenniff sees each song as integral to the whole, stating that removing one would be like tearing a page from a book, yet each track functions independently as a self-contained epic. The album also features contributions from his wife, Hollie Kenniff, on tracks like "Emeralds," adding a divine, digitized vocal presence to the mix. Overall, Espera is a testament to Kenniff's mastery in crafting immersive soundscapes that invite listeners into a state of peaceful introspection.