HELMS ALEE

Noctiluca

SARGENT HOUSE

Aquatic wonders from the deep reaches of the alt-sludge trenches

It seems fitting that Helms Alee have named their fifth album after a type of glowing, sea-dwelling algae: a mysterious but commonplace lifeform that many wouldn’t even know exists. The band have, after all, been quietly plugging away for over a decade, making impressive, inventive music that’s both understated and underrated. While the sludgy thunk is never too far away, Noctiluca represents the band’s most restrained work to date, more than ever recalling the airy dream pop of Cocteau Twins or the odd, spidery types who released