HELDON - INTERFACE - 1978

What was original in 1950 isn't necessarily original today. But we have to listen to music considering the time it was recorded in. If we talk about Interface like it was released yesterday, we'd find it to be an extremely good album, but not really original. The thing is, it was released in 1977, when "mainstream" music (besides the whole pop thing) was (mostly) either synthetic (say, Kraftwerk's post-krautrock-era Autobahn, or even disco music) or progressive (Yes' Going for the One, for example). Just like 1968 for psychedelic, the period between 1975-1985 showed an evolution, sometimes involution, of music, with metal getting accepted as a genre, Frank Zappa's releasing some fifteen albums, and I could go on and on naming stuff. Why all this, you wonder? Just to say that Interface is not "just"' a very good album, it was groundbreaking back then, and it's still an incredible album today.

Stylistically, Interface works as a rock album, sometimes close to krautrock and progressive, but mostly an avant-prog one. Think King Crimson's Starless and Bible Black mixed with Kraftwerk's first few albums or even Can. But seriously, no matter how many bands I name, it's quite hard to really describe Interface. It's just something so great and simple yet so conceptually complex that I doubt it can be described so much without sounding cheesy. Just know that if you like any of the avant-prog movements, you'll love this one, or even if you like any ‘70s prog rock.

Where Heldon is groundbreaking is in the mix of electronic rhythms and atonal guitar leads, so much that it wouldn't be surprising to find Erkki Kurenniemi and Robert Fripp in the lineup. Lead after lead, rhythm after rhythm, it's crazy that Heldon still finds a way to surprise you again. When you think you already know the album, Interface’s ritualistic drumming hits you in the face, and if it doesn't, then the first few polyrhythms will...or maybe the Fripp-like sustained first lead on that song... or even the heavy riff after that.

That's what makes Heldon groundbreaking: they are always trying to find ways to surprise you. And really, even if they didn't, they are talented technically, with greatly varied drumming, some of the best guitar playing avant-prog has witnessed, and some serious electronic walls of sound. They really do cover all the bases. Well, except the vocal part, since they don't have a vocalist. But you won't need it, as you'll be way too busy drooling over the fantastic everything else.

Interface is an avant-prog masterpiece. Even if you’ve only taken the time to read these last lines, make sure to get it.
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