no c in HELVETI_A helvetia
 the clever north wind
( the static cult label ) 2006

the clever north wind is that album with the vectorized birds and sea foam-green speech bubbles you've seen pictured alongside positive press over the past few months. Helvetia is the name of the northwestern quartet that made it - led by thee Jason Albertini. I guess now would be as damn fine'a spot to tell you that "memphis sophisticate" is one of the best songs ever. You see, reader - Jason Albertini was one of the brilliant hands that connected duster to us [Helvetia skinsman Caanan Amber was there as well]. My memories of duster still speak to me on a weekly basis, and Helvetia flat-out fucking soothe the sad parts that were edited when duster stopped doing their dusty things.

So for this second part, I could try and weigh the this and that's of duster and/-vs- Helvetia - but I won't. duster was intentionally "lo-fi" and the kings of such, and Helvetia do still have a damn good ear for making these 15 jams sound recorded by real humans on something other than hard drives. What I mean to say is Helvetia own huge.

"can't explain this need to come undone"- Dead Hands

Nothing on this complete LP sounds forced - there is a brilliant & steady format which these gents follow and it makes me wanna cut myself to see if I'm still alive. Every minute of the six total minutes that complete "Dead Hands", a track at the center of tcnw, is worthy of elaborate praise. The percussion is jammed to the front left and right, a kinda creepy bassline moves like distant thunder somewhere below and Albertini's vocals are - to put it best - quite duster-ized [ie: ghostly, particles, sonic. see also: "A Wild One"]. tcnw is completely something new - yet the fuzzy logic that breaks down the mathematical equation forming Helvetia warms like friends you've always known and adored. I am quite thankful for this album, this band, their label and UP for the keen ear it took to distribute it all.

"I'm so excited and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited and I just can't hide it
And I know I know I know I know I know I want you".

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