Haelos - Full Circle

The debut full-length from London's Haelos is an emotive journey through the planes of love, faith, and faith in love. Recalling the mood of classic '90s trip-hop and electronica with updated precision, Full Circle floods the senses with atmospheric texture and expansive soundscapes. The male-female vocal interplay of Lotti Benardout and Arthur Delaney is reminiscent of the xx, albeit much warmer, while Dom Goldsmith's production harkens back to Portishead, Massive Attack, and Moby. The cycle of love -- including the back and forth and the ups and downs -- is the common theme here, with the trio imparting a euphoric quality to it all. Full Circle begins with a sample of philosopher Alan Watts' "The Spectrum of Love" before connecting to de facto opener "Pray," both a plea and a warning to "raise your soul" and "pray you don't fall down." The quiet raves of "Pray" and "Oracle" recall Play-era Moby, with the latter combining the angelic beauty of "My Weakness" and the powerful hypnotic t