The musical genius behind Helios, Keith Kenniff, is more than just a composer. He tells stories through notes, provoking inner thoughts, and raw emotions to come out. Perhaps, all of his compositions aren’t that aggressive, but one of his pieces that strikes the most is titled “Falls.”
He was able to let loose a spacey and emotional atmosphere within just a short two minutes of running time. The piece starts with a quick arpeggio, which is backed with a hypnotizing pad. With everything set in place, all of the pieces he laid out seem to glue together, forming a brilliant intro that would capture anyone’s attention.
It further escalates into something bigger, with Keith introducing more instruments to the mix. The arpeggio disappears in background and is replaced with a sudden soft pluck that lingers throughout the record.
Each stabs, and chord changes are meaningful and haunting in an elegant way. Although it was brief, Keith still managed to wrap up his mini-ensemble in a subtle manner. Before the conclusion happens, the bass slightly kicks in, adding more depth and appearance to the record.
In its ways, “Falls” is a story-driven with subtle progress and grandiose production. Its eerie and lonely vibes equate to a fruitful and emotional listening experience, something that only Keith can do.
He demonstrates more of his creativity through more of his tracks, notably the second part for his song “Portraits.” Personally, the track itself is more than just a sequel, but rather a musical piece that lives as its own, esteeming with positivity and a sense of progress.
The precursor for “Portraits Pt. 2” is also commendable. It laid off a strong foundation for a sequel, yet was still able to survive as a standalone piece. “Avenoir” is another track that Keith produced, and is one we can describe as an adventure. It did a great job invoking different emotions, and we believe that any listener would experience a roller coaster ride with its uncertain momentum and sudden changes.
“Rivers” is an ambitious composition, something I think is rather fitting as a backdrop to an emotional theater scene. It successfully retained an ominous and lonely feeling, yet still is beautiful in its ways. “Here” does the opposite. It reeks of hope, perfect for someone that is yearning. For 3 minutes, Keith was able to satisfy his listeners, introducing different instruments while still keeping them cohesive and inspiring.
