There is wonderful fusion is styles and influences under the Heogen moniker, fusing the complex and surreal composition style of exm (aka Jeroen Bax) with the melodic and rhythmical style of Min-Y-Llan aka Martin Boulton. A meeting of two beautiful minds, and a real demonstration of powerful synergy.
A real demonstration of powerful synergy
Where would be without the bees, where would we be without the birds, no longer here; on a dead planet, is where we would not even be. Heogen return with their second full length release that’s very much the outdoor cousin of their more internal predecessor. Complexity and subject come across as very key on this release, which stands so far apart from Odd Radio Circle, they’re more like cousins than siblings. So from the outset we realize there’s development and consideration a plenty at work here. Before speaking too much further, it was my love for the first Heogen album which inspired the dare to write a review, and seeded my foray into writing reviews, feature articles and joining the Igloo team as an occasional contributor. So before we start from first hearing them, I ❤️’d Heogen.
Soaring chorals and female vocals wash around entwining with synths like sirens of the sea frolicking and dancing in water. This is “Birdsong” that we got early access to on the Touched By Silence 2 compilation. A weighty 4CD compilation which should sit nicely into any well-considered electronic music collection. Swelling bass sounds add weight to the track and laidback percussion gives the listener its first easy flight aboard Inantiphsea.
There is wonderful fusion is styles and influences under the Heogen moniker, fusing the complex and surreal composition style of exm (aka Jeroen Bax) with the melodic and rhythmical style of Min-Y-Llan aka Martin Boulton. A meeting of two beautiful minds, and a real demonstration of powerful synergy.
As the album continues “Omnia” builds on the established themed concept of the album, washing us with female Mother Earth energies. Interesting and worldly percussions help blow exotic almost Middle Eastern flavors into the percussive backbone, but it’s a travelogue track which drops out of percussions mid way through to explore better the melodic side of its nature, before meeting a more male energy as it comes to its eventual halt.
I’m reminded of the concept album Descent by exm released on Touched Music in 2021. This also feels like a conceptual undertaking, building and revealing layers, that are as narrative as they are soundtrack. “Dark Amber” reinforces this idea to me, as I get that déjà vu sense of traveling a nearly familiar road, but one I know I’ve not travelled before. Plucked and plinking synths give a bell like percussive nature and soundscape, showing some homage and influence from the likes of Plaid. Surely in terms of quality an dynamics Heogen have levelled up to match Plaid, he says with confidence, yet expectations of deep inhalations and gasps by furtive Plaid fans that such sacra-licious uttering might spew out from one man’s keyboard. Please no flame-wars. It’s a comment filled with love and respect as much as it possibly can.
“Epos Alcove,” isn’t just another track, it’s a new location. Like reaching a new place in a video game, the music shifts tempo, and creates a new locational flavor. Very much in keeping with the albums sound aesthetic choir-ish calls and shouts emanate around a more bouncy beat, with percussive sounds that are more retro 80’s in feel than experienced on the album thus far. Heogen have again supplanted their sound palette with arpeggiated sings, strings, bells, aaaaahs, and la’s. I discovered Jon Mace (Inkipak) had a hand in the baselines—I would not be a bit shocked, but maybe it’s just a nod of respect to his basslines I’m hearing.
Tracks on this album don’t just fade out due to lack of inspiration, they evolve or devolve into something differentiating, almost like to be links between main compositions, but as addendums, and part of the dissipating tune, rather than some unlinked thing. It’s very nice.
The rest of the album explores deeper and further the sound palette, with each composition retaining the album theme-scape, but exploring new locations. Each a worthy track with no fillers here at all. If a balanced approach between old analogue sounds and more digital, one’s appeal, with distinct melodies, rhythms and themes are appealing to your ear, then this is for you. If you enjoyed output from exm, Min-Y-Llan, Plaid, Inkipak (or similar), then this is for you.
Another strong and worthy release celebration the 10 years anniversary for Touched Music.
I ❤️ Heogen!
Inantiphsea is available on Touched Music. [Bandcamp]
