Haelos - Full Circle

Haelos
Full Circle
2016
Spotify

For their debut album, Full Circle, Haelos sets the tone with "Intro/Spectrum". In it we hear a scientific-ish description of the different planes of love and how they effect the universe. Thus we need to strap in for that same kind of exploration within the album. Haelos borrow in no shortage from the early days of trip-hop and electronica as well as the heydays of shoegaze. The most obvious reference is the xx with the inclusion of both male and female vocals, but you never feel like Haelos are ripping anyone off. Their music has a character all it's own and while they may get in close with the xx their music is far more personal on a one to one level. Most of these tracks aren't meant to fill giant space, even though at times they do, instead they focus on the small details. All of Full Circle centers around an examination of love, but less about love between two people and more of seeing what love means on a universal scale, as an idea. The album art evokes the idea of an eclipse which is in essence a coming together of two things and it really works for this record. "Earth Not Above" has one of the best beats on the album, yet still has this vast undertone that much of the album does. There is also a really great feeling of being surrounded that this album creates, not in the way of something closing in on you, but more like being enveloped in something welcoming.

The three distinct voices harmonizing also adds to a vibe of connectedness. However the one thinig about shoegaze and trip-hop as well is that at times it can be just to damn boring. On songs like "Alone" you are desperate for some energy because it is being teased constantly. It would be like an EDM DJ never playing a drop for an entire song but building to it throughout. It can be maddening. That is the one thing that is difficult on Full Circle is eventually you feel like you have heard everything that Haelos is going to offer you, and you are only a few tracks deep. You loose the stakes and the emotional piece sort of drifts away as well. It is not until the final track "Pale" that Haelos finally let all that they have been building to loose and go full rave synth. It is a great release but perhaps it just comes a bit to late. The arc of the album follows love, loss, despair and rebirth and thus completes the circle that they have tried to create with this record. Haelos have placed themselves firmly in a scene and shown that they can excel, but what is really fascinating is the potential of this band. With music like this as they continue to grow we can expect something really special on the horizon.

7.2 out of 10