Dromomania

From NE Portland, via Seattle, and San Jose, hails the guitar-centric, weirdo pop outfit Helvetia. From the ocean to endless brown hills and then the very green trees, comes a music that evokes the simplicity of 70's Kinks with a good dose of Captain Beefheart and the randomness of The Residents. Third-wave hardcore influences (see "The Rubber Maids") morph into Neu-like trance-rock. Meat Puppets and Elevator to Hell assemble to make little baby spiders ("Bermuda" and "Radio Shower"). These are the likes that crawl through Helvetia's dense forestry. Albertini's voice is lulling and dry, in tone and manner, with a story to be told. It's up to the listener to piece the content together.