Expanding their scope on sophomore effort
Any Random Kindness, U.K. electronic outfit
Hælos took their early trip-hop revival sound and thawed the chill to reveal a lively, effervescent heart beating within. Hints of
Moby's early-era house beats and
the xx's atmospheric gloom remain, incorporating the spirits of
Massive Attack and a little
Underworld in the process (especially on "Boy/Girl"). Unlike introverted debut
Full Circle, however, much of
Any Random Kindness feels reinvigorated, urgent, and bursting with brightness, held together by the group's effortlessly cool veneers. Vocalists Lotti Benardout and
Arthur Delaney once again trade duties, their back-and-forth interplay building tension, sensuality, and urgency while the beats and atmospherics -- courtesy of Dom Goldsmith and
Daniel Vildósola -- throb and swell. Lyrically, the weight of the world, geopolitics, and uncertainty in the digital age provide moments of bittersweet uncertainty, but
Hælos stay loyal to optimism and hope. Of the marquee moments, the rousing "Kyoto" stands tall. The sprawling track starts with familiar keys and a pulsing beat, hypnotizing as Benardout and
Delaney layer their vocals; when the song builds to a dramatic, dancefloor-filling breakdown,
Hælos throw everything they have at the finish. It's a thrill to experience and one that is challenged elsewhere by the hypnotic and luscious "Buried in the Sand," which whips up a trance-like frenzy of reverie, and "Empty Skies," a throwback to '90s soul/house sounds that stretches the lead pair's vocals. Likewise, "End of the World Party" maintains the nostalgia with a classic
Lyn Collins/Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock sample, connecting dancefloors across the decades through an infectious sonic wormhole. In addition to the party-starters, uplifting moments such as "So Long, Goodbye" and "Another Universe" elevate
Any Random Kindness with grace, while the bluesy, piano-bar closer "Last One Out (Turn the Lights Off)" pulls everything together with a final plea for positivity and a light in the darkness. Cerebral yet soulful,
Any Random Kindness strikes an ideal balance for
Hælos, a significant step forward in their evolution. ~ Neil Z. Yeung