HÆLOS will release their sophomore effort, Any Random Kindness, on May 10th via Infectious. Any Random Kindness examines the search for connection in an increasingly fractured world. It’s the follow up to 2016’s intricately-layered, trip hop-influenced Full Circle, a debut album “that both cements them in a genre and leaves them room to grow” (Pitchfork). In conjunction with today’s album announcement, HÆLOS share a new song, “Kyoto,” and an accompanying video.
The first full album cycle for HÆLOS was a baptism of fire, and the year-long creation of Any Random Kindness pushed HÆLOS to the edge and back again. On winding up the Full Circle tour in January 2017, the trio — Lotti Benardout, Arthur Delaney, and Dom Goldsmith — returned to London and immediately installed touring guitarist Daniel Vildósola as a full-time member of the band. His classical background and technical prowess brought a new level of musicality and equilibrium to the band.
For Any Random Kindness, HÆLOS reassessed their creative approach, conducting songwriting experiments – writing a song an hour or finishing a track and then stripping it down and completely re-doing it. Delaney returned to writing on acoustic guitar, while Goldsmith retreated into his love of dance music and the minimal techno of Ricardo Villalobos. The band recorded the album with producer Orlando Leopard at Baltic Studios in East London and at their home studio, and it was mixed by Matt Wiggins (Glass Animals) and Marta Salongi (The xx, Bjork). The latter part of the recording was especially tense, with many near breakups. However, this process led to a new, optimistic perception of each other, and music that explored the push and pull of relationships. A new, increasingly dance-floor oriented direction to their sound emerged.
Throughout Any Random Kindess, HÆLOS refer to different facets that affect the modern world – the isolating nature of technology and social media, the looming climate change, their relationships with each other, and corrupt politics, as heard on “Kyoto,” a glitchy, yet catchy slice of electronica that critiques politicians who prioritize economics above the environment.
Any Random Kindness shows a newly developed HÆLOS, one that’s eager to push forward. Catch them live throughout North America this spring.
Watch “Kyoto” Video – https://Haelos.lnk.to/KyotoVideoPR
Stream “Kyoto” – https://Haelos.lnk.to/KyotoPR
Pre-order Any Random Kindness – https://Haelos.lnk.to/AnyRandomPR
Watch HÆLOS’ “Buried In The Sand” Video – https://Haelos.lnk.to/BITSVidPR
Any Random Kindness Tracklist: 1. Another Universe 2. Buried in the Sand 3. End of World Party 4. Kyoto 5. ARK 6. Boy Girl 7. Deep State 8. Empty Skies 9. Happy Sad 10. So Long, Goodbye 11. Last One Out (Turn the Lights Off)
HÆLOS Tour Dates: Thurs. Feb. 21 – Berlin, DE @ Badehaus Fri. Feb. 22 – Brussels, BE @ The Rotonde at Botanique Sat. Feb. 23 – Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet Tue. March 12 – Sat. March 16 – Austin, TX @ SXSW Sat. March 16 – Sun. March 17 – Mexico City, MX @ Vive Latino Tue. March 19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom Wed. March 20 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent Fri. March 22 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge Sat. March 23 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile Sun. March 24 – Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall Wed. March 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Thurs. March 28 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall Fri. March 29 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar Sat. March 30 – Toronto, ON @ The Garrison Mon. April 1 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB Tue. April 2 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall Fri. April 5 – New York, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg Sat. April 6 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall Thu. May 16 – London, UK @ EartH (Hackney Arts Centre) Fri. June 7 – Sat. June 8 – London, UK @ Field Day
Keep your mind open.
[Subscribing would be a random kindness to me.]
