Helvetia - Essential Aliens LP

"Essential Aliens" is the 10th Helvetia album. Helvetia is the solo project of Jason Albertini from Duster.

The songs on "Essential Aliens" were recorded over the last year in Jason's basement. Helvetia resides in Portland, Oregon but was formed in Seattle, Washington in 2005 after Duster first went on hiatus.

Since the band’s inception, Jason has continued to employ a rotating cast of band members and collaborators, which now includes Steve Gere and Samantha Stidham. Steve and Jason also played in Built To Spill together from 2012 until 2018. In 2019 Duster started playing shows and recording again. During this time Jason started writing what would become "This Devastating Map". Released at the beginning of August last year, it was described as “a constantly shifting project that takes experimental lo-fi into brilliantly coloured psych directions with a concise glow.” Then the pandemic took hold.

With normal life at a standstill and unable to hang with his bandmates, Jason focused his energy on his daughter’s home-schooling schedule, and recording. He focused on finishing one song a day and was soon honing in on a brand new album.

Recommended if you like Acetone, Chad VanGaalen, Duster, Built to Spill, The Olivia Tremor Control, Spirit of the Beehive.

Tracklist:

1. Not So Infinite Life of Weird
2. Crooks Go in the Ground
3. New Mess
4. Jumper
5. Claw
6. That Strange Pull
7. Rocks on the Ramp
8. Star Hinged Trap
9. Caroline Stays / The Al Snatch
10. Why Am I Missing
11. The Echo Creek
12. Does It Go Backwards
13. Better Get Gifted
14. Skit 8

About this product: this release is pressed on clear vinyl.