5 December 2006
Glad You Were Born reviews
Two great reviews of Glad You Were Born in Explosions in Space and
Die Shellsuit ezines.
Explosions in Space gives the album 7.2 out of 10, with reviewer Dave Van Zandt stating simply: "Glad You Were Born is just a great album."
He continues: "Why flower it with poetic words like... lush walls of distorted guitars over a water fall of rainbow prisms. Why declare that the album shimmers like a billion diamonds strewn across the sunlit sand. Why? It's really simple because this album does all of that.
"This is what I have been waiting to hear, a band who embraces the early 90's shoegaze movement and one ups it to a new level.
"Buy it, download it, steal it! Just get it!"
It's fair to say that, initially, Die Shellsuit reviewer Will Slater was not quite so impressed with Glad You Were Born.
He writes: "First time I listened to this album I immediately dismissed is as moangy droney wank, and shuffled it to the bottom of the pile."
However, he soon realised the error of his ways, and continues: "Oh how wrong I was! I’ve been giving it much more of a chance over the last couple of days, and boy is it a grower!
"All of the songs have a definite edge to them, with layered melodies and a sense of the sinister pervading even the jauntier, poppy tracks.
"So yeah, in retrospect my initial feelings on this album were shockingly wrong. It’s great. If you have any taste in music whatsoever, give it a go. And if you enjoy the likes of Ride and Slowdive (and you should) you’ll love it."
And a fine 8 out of 10 rating from Die shellsuit.
Heliconia are playing at the Dublin Castle in Camden in London on Thursday, December 21. The band are due onstage around 8pm.
5 December 2006
The Troy Enclosure at MySpace
The Troy Enclosure has (and indeed, has had for some time - apologies Brandon) a MySpace page.
Lucky Us, the very impresive debut release by The Troy Enclosure on Isolation last year, received some great reviews. The EP was described as "a dark ambient oddity with a strangely lopsided, out-of-focus feel" and "baffling but beautiful".
The MySpace page includes fine and fascinating new material by The Troy Enclosure.
16 November 2006
Heliconia T-shirts available
Attention all fashionistas, Heliconia T-shirts are now available!
This very desirable item is available in green with orange Heliconia logo and in versions to flatter both male and female shapes.
T-shirts are £10 (+ £2.50 postage and packing). For further details, email jplamont@hotmail.com
9 November 2006
Heliconia T-shirts
You've seen the band, you've got the CD ... now wear the T-shirt. Coming very soon, super-suave Heliconia T-shirts.
Full details on sizes, colours, prices etc next week.
18 October 2006
Heliconia photographs
Photographer Julius Beltrame has added a new set of Heliconia photographs, taken in London this month, to his work on flickr.
The very cool set captures the band live at Dust in colour, mono and with effects. Definitely worth checking out.
Last year, Julius took another set of Heliconia playing live in London which can also be seen on the same page.
24 September 2006
Heliconia dates
Heliconia are playing a series of gigs in the southeast over the next few weeks.
The band kick off the dates with the previously announced gig at Dust Live - 1 Curtain Road, EC2 - on Thursday, October 5.
This is followed by:
Saturday, October 7, Old Ford Public House, Ashvale.
Thursday, October 26, The Legion, 348 Old Street, London (nearest Underground, Old Street). Tickets £5, £4 concessions through Bugbear Bookings.
Tuesday, October 31, Pressure Point, Brighton, with South and Brian Jacket Letdown, through Lout Promotions.
Wednesday, November 15, 333, at 333 Old Street, London (nearest Underground, Old Street). Tickets £5, £4.50 concessions through Bugbear Bookings.
9 September 2006
Heliconia Shoreditch gig
Heliconia have a gig in London's Shoreditch coming up in October.
The band, who released their debut album Glad You Were Born on Isolation this summer, are playing at Dust Live - 1 Curtain Road, EC2 - on Thursday, October 5.
Also on the bill are Horses and another band, yet to be announced. Heliconia are due onstage at 8.30pm.
Tickets are £6/£5 and are available through Plum Promotions.
In the meantime, Isolation is hoping to announce soon US distribution for Glad You Were Born.
22 August 2006
Heliconia video
A video for Marina by Heliconia has been uploaded onto the band's MySpace page and YouTube.
The dark, brooding video, which features the band and actor Daniel Harcourt, was written and directed by film-maker Joseph Barnett.
Marina is the powerful opening track on Glad You Were Born, Heliconia's debut album, released this summer on Isolation.
26 July 2006
Heliconia London gig
Heliconia, whose debut album, Glad You Were Born, has just been released on Isolation, have a London gig coming up in August.
The band are playing at The Hope and Anchor in Islington on Saturday, August 12.
Also on the bill are 9Eye and The Brinks. Tickets are £6/£4.50.
24 June 2006
Glad You Were Born available through PayPal
Heliconia's debut album, Glad You Were Born, is now available through PayPal. See the releases page.
Gla You Were Born can also be ordered from Pulse Records.
Heliconia, whose guitar-driven sound has been described as neo-shoegazer, have played with German electronic artist Ulrich Schnauss and previously recorded for Isolation and AC30.
Glad You Were Born, which includes work done with producer Pat Collier (Primal Scream, House of Love), captures the band's distinctive combination of laidback stoner grooves alternating with sheets of guitar and distortion.
Whether it’s the plaintive but powerful Bliss, a wall of noise rising from stuttering drums and resigned vocals; the delicately haunting Girl I Need You – music for walking down rainy 4am streets; the bass-sculpted Loose Ends, all jittery guitars, angst and adrenalin; or the hushed boy/girl vocals, reciting some private mantra, of Deep In Winter.
The three-piece have gigged extensively in London and Brighton area over the past couple of years honing their powerful live sound.
A review of a pre-release copy of Glad You Were Born on webzine shotgunreviews.com commented on Heliconia’s “dynamic mix of neo and classic shoegaze”, concluding that the album “should bring the band some of the attention and respect they so richly deserve”.
Glad You Were Born (Isolate 07), which features 11 tracks, is available for £9.99 plus £1 postage and packing.
19 June 2006
Glad You Were Born released
Heliconia's debut album, Glad You Were Born, is released today on Isolation.
Glad You Were Born (Isolate 07), which features 11 tracks, is available for £9.99 plus £1 postage and packing.
It can be ordered from Pulse Records.
A promo copy of the album has had a great review at shotgunreviews.
The reviewer wrote: "With a dynamic and tasteful mix of neo and classic shoegaze, Heliconia are primed to make a big step into the face of modern music."
11 June 2006
Heliconia festival appearance
Heliconia are playing at free music festival Ikestock 2006, near Ashford in Kent, on Saturday, June 24.
The line up also includes; Isaac Howlett, Somebodys Mind, Roxy Rawson, Lopez, DJ Eskimo (The Magnet Men), plus more.
The full address is Egerton House Field, Ashford, Kent, TN27 9BD. Go to Ikestock for further details.
Before that, on Friday, June 16, Heliconia are playing at a Club AC30 night at the The Luminaire in Kilburn. Also playing are Ulrich Schnauss, Pia Fraus and Spotlight Kid.
Heliconia's debut album, Glad You Were Born, is released on Isolation later this month.
22 April 2006
Heliconia London gigs
Heliconia have two London gigs coming up over the next couple of months.
On Saturday, May 20 the band are playing at the Caernarvon Castle in Camden, along with Milkthief.
Then on Friday, June 16 Heliconia are on the bill at a Club AC30 night at the The Luminaire in Kilburn. Also playing are Ulrich Schnauss, Pia Fraus and Spotlight Kid.
Tickets for the Luminaire gig are available from Ticketweb for £7.
Heliconia's debut album, Glad You Were Born, is scheduled for release on Isolation this spring.
A review of a promo copy on the shotgunreviews website described it as "a dynamic and tasteful mix of neo and classic shoegaze".
8 March 2006
Helcionia and Astra Brighton gig
Heliconia and Astra are playing at the Pressure Point in Brighton on Sunday, April 2.
The Isolation artists are supporting Pure Reason Revolution at the Richmond Place venue.
Astra, who describes her sound as "part classical, part folk-pop with attitude", is due onstage 8.15pm.
Heliconia, whose debut album Glad You Were Born is relseased on Isolation this spring, will play at 9pm.
Tickets are £8 on the door or £6 in advance. These are available through Pressure Point, Rounder, Resident and Ticketweb.
Before that, Astra has another Brighton gig coming up on Monday, March 13, at The Greys on Southover Street. Also on the bill are Danny Ladwa and Bela Emerson.
Astra is due onstage at 9.15pm.
23 February 2006
Astra demos
Just to say that the links to the Astra demos are working again.
The seven tracks on the Unreleased page give a taste of Astra's beguiling "part classical, part folk-pop with attitude".
The more recent tracks feature Astra on vocals and acoustic guitar, while the earlier recordings also include Abi on viola.
On Monday, March 13, Astra is playing at The Greys, Southover Street, Brighton. Also on the bill are Danny Ladwa and Bela Emerson. Astra is due onstage at 9.15pm.
Astra's debut album is scheduled for release on Isolation later this year.
19 February 2006
Astra at MySpace
There is now an Astra page at MySpace for tracks, forum, blog and images. It joins Isolation and heliconia pages at MySpace.
And a reminder that Astra, who describes her sound as "part classical, part folk-pop with attitude", has two Brighton gigs coming up.
This Wednesday - February 22 - Astra opens in support of North East and James Grape Authority at Sussex Arts Club on Ship Street.
Then on Monday, March 13, she is playing at The Greys, Southover Street. Also on the bill are Danny Ladwa and Bela Emerson. Astra is due onstage at 9.15pm.
Astra's debut album is scheduled for release on Isolation later this year.
19 February 2006
Heliconia album
Although Heliconia's gig at the Freebutt in Brighton last Monday was cancelled as headliners Calla were unable to get a flight out of the US due to bad weather, the Brooklyn-based band are keen to have Heliconia support them when they reschedule the gig.
In the meantime, Heliconia may have another Brighton gig coming up in early April. Details to follow.
At around the same time, Heliconia's debut album, Glad You Were Born, is scheduled for release.
The track listing is:
Marina
Felt Lke Iron
I Am Only
Witness
Bliss
Girl I Need You
Loose Ends
Invincible
Burn The Bomb
Deep In Winter
Beat Down
Some promo copies have been sent out, and already the album has had a great review at shotgunreviews.com.
Reviewer Shawn Delaney writes: "With a dynamic and tasteful mix of neo and classic shoegaze, Heliconia are primed to make a big step into the face of modern music."
9 February 2006
Isolation at MySpace
There is now an Isolation page at MySpace for tracks, forum and blog.
Heliconia also have their own MySpace page with forum, band blog and unreleased tracks to download.
8 February 2006
Heliconia Brighton gig with Calla
Following their appearance at the Harlequin in Redhill, Surrey, on Sunday, Heliconia head down to the Freebutt in Brighton for a gig with Brooklyn-based Beggars Banquet signings Calla on Monday, February 13.
By odd coincidence, both bands (appear to) take their names from flowers! Also appearing are The Early Years.
Tickets are £6 in advance and £7 on the door. Click for the flyer. Heliconia are due on stage at 8.15pm.
Heliconia's debut album is due for release on Isolation in the early part of this year.
18 January 2006
Heliconia and Astra gigs
Heliconia have two gigs coming up in February, in the lead up to their debut album being released on Isolation.
The band play the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill, Surrey, on Sunday February 5. Tickets are £6 in advance, £7 on the door.
Also appearing on the bill are: Lucid, About:Blank, Union Ashes, To The grave and State Of Mind.
Doors open at 5pm. Harlequin box office: 01737 765547.
Then on Monday February 13, Heliconia return to The Freebutt in Brighton as support for Calla.
Tickets are £6 in advance. Doors open 8pm.
Meanwhile, Astra, whose debut album is also scheduled for release on Isolation this year, has two gigs coming up in Brighton.
On Wednesday February 22, Astra opens in support of North East and James Grape Authority at Sussex Arts Club on Ship Street.
And on Monday March 13, she is playing at The Greys, Southover Street. Also on the bill are Danny Ladwa and Bela Emerson. Astra is due onstage at 9.15pm.
