Halos Album Review
Halos – limited edition UK EP
Words by Alex Brady
I have many pet hates. I can’t stand beads, the way that chavs speak makes me feel ill, but topping those is something this band has managed to do. My ramblings today concern the release from the band Halos, don’t ask me what the EP is called because it seems they didn’t grace it with a name, and that is perhaps my greatest pet hate.
Forgetting the quality of the tracks within, if you are going to make your music public, put a name to the work! A quick search on that marvellous internet thingy reveals a large number of bands that are called Halos, Halo or some variation upon that so naming any EPs or albums you produce is essential to mark your work from that of others and is as much a symbol of who you are as the name you chose for yourselves to begin with. Who knows, maybe they did name this EP (upon entering it into iTunes it just comes up with ‘Limited Edition: United Kingdom’) and the title was lost in translation, but would you go through months of stress and hard work to finally give birth and not name your child?
Putting my random bitterness aside, this is actually a rather splendid release. It’s only 5 tracks but it makes every effort to leave you with the impression that this lot could go very far! From start to end you are bathed in the light of an alternative Royksopp, with the rich emotional gloss of Angels and Airwaves. Hekla opens everything up with a gentle, simplistic, soothing charm which is undeniably comforting and unique and bodes well for the other four musical treats. From then on you are invited onto a rollercoaster of sound. From gritty, rockier tracks to the odd soothing sensation this EP takes you through the highs and the lows every band should be capable of making you feel. I have become gradually disillusioned with artists who pick a successful sound and stick with it until death, with the lack of variety eventually becoming their downfall.
In the most basic terms, this EP is an epic, a musical mountain few others could conquer. The variety, emotional dedication and musical ability ensure this stands out from a lot of artists on the radio, let alone any in my work load. It leaves me with high hopes for any albums they plan to release in the future, I just pray they have the decency to grace them with a title.
October 9th, 2010
brilliant review. halos is a fine band and deserve all the recognition they can garner.
October 11th, 2010
FYI – This wasn’t actually a public release, which is why it is not named, but rather a special release to UK fans during their short tour with Circa as a precusor to the 12 song album which will certainly have a title.