The devastating map

Description

Helvetia was founded in Seattle in 2005 by Jason Albertini. A variable lineup with many collaborators, the group now includes Steve Gere and Samantha Stidham. Albertini is one of the three members of Duster, which spent 2019 releasing a new album and performing live for the first time in 20 years. Helvetia is very close to Duster's philosophy, pushing the limits of its ideals even further, with a mix of weird pop and eccentric curiosities. Helvetia made its debut in 2006 with 'The Clever North Wind', released on The Static Cult label by Clay Parton, a member of Duster. With each subsequent release, the Seattle band ventures a little further into psychedelic influences, further developing its slowcore approach. Albertini moved to Portland, Oregon, and released 'Nothing In Rambling' in 2012, his first album on Joyful Noise Recordings. That same year, Albertini joined Built To Spill on bass, and the two groups shared members and toured together. Albertini spent the summer of 2019 recording 'This Devastating Map' in his home studio. While the mighty Duster inhabited a broken space station lost in the cosmos, Helvetia's sound is decidedly more earthly: guitars vibrate and soar beyond limits with hushed vocals that bear witness to painful personal struggles. Helvetia abandons conventional song structure in favor of repetitive sequences, where Albertini delights the listener with unlikely melodies, juxtaposing memorable patterns with bizarre forms that invite listening to the album on repeat. White vinyl.