The Helio Sequence

“Keep Your Eyes Ahead”

(Sub Pop)

Grade: B

This fourth full-length from the Portland-based duo is more organic sounding than their previous electro-spiked efforts. The record holds an array of offerings – even a make out song in “Back to this.”

Some highlights:

The first track, “Lately,” begins with a fade-in of understated, dreamy synth noise that morphs into a riff reminiscent of U2’s “Red Hill Mining Town.” Brandon Summers echo-tinged voice lends a epic quality to the music.

The upbeat and melodic “Can’t Say No” is a space rock jam with a robotic delivery on the verses by Summers. “The Captive Mind” has new wave accents a la New Order.

The Title track is the album’s strongest, with mesmerizing vocals and a dance punk drum beat with the whole thing awash in reverb.

The band completely shifts gears to acoustic folk on “Shed Your Love” and “Broken Afternoon,” two dead-on Dylan ballads.