Helene - Heliotrope

Formed in 2001, London-based collective Helene's career is in danger of beginning to plateau. It's to be hoped instead that Heliotrope, their dusky beauty of a third album, will propel core duo Helene Dineen and Graham Gargiulo to the level of success that they richly deserve. While Gargiulo and a company of other players referred to only by their forenames (in a cutesy nod to the twee movement where Helene find their roots, but which they transcend to an almost embarrassing degree) create a beautifully intricate backdrop woven with bewitching circular guitar patterns, it's the vocals which take centre stage. Blending the clear-eyed sincerity of Kristin Hersh's solo work with her own hushed and hesitant intonation, Dineen paints devastating lyrical pictures without indulging in angst. Heliotrope is the sound of someone mustering up all her restraint to keep herself from falling apart. It's an also an inestimable pleasure to listen to.