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Feb 15, 2019 Web Exclusive By Timothy Michalik

Former Mac DeMarco guitarist Peter Sagar’s latest album as Homeshake, Helium, is a watered-down detour from the cohesive “jizz-jazz”—a wretched expression in itself—found on his two previous albums Midnight Snack and Fresh Air, where jazzy chord progressions and homages to late ‘90s R&B were defining features. On Helium, Segar instead fills these vacancies with dopey synth patterns, his trademark vocal delivery of smooth and borderline erotic whispers and coos sound distant, as if Segar himself wasn’t fully committed to what’s coming out of his mouth.

That’s a staunch and alarming attribute for a Homeshake record—both Midnight Snack and Fresh Air possessed an effortless identity; they came naturally, as if Segar had just thrown some clothes on, hit the bowl, and pressed record. Helium sounds like the morning after, fighting off an omnipresent haze as the day slowly forms. (www.homeshake.bandcamp.com)

Author rating: 5.5/10