Song of the Day: A.D.K.O.B. – Helium

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Morning Show with John Richards, is "Helium" by A.D.K.O.B. from a forthcoming EP on Australian label Wonderlick Recordings.

A.D.K.O.B. – Helium (MP3)

This glimmering tune by A.D.K.O.B. (an acronym for A Different Kind of Busy) finds the Sydney-based quartet moving beyond the indie pop of their first EP to a place that’s decidedly downtempo. Coolly exploring the slog of frustration one feels during a communication breakdown, "Helium" hones in on that feeling when everything that’s said just comes out wrong.

This song’s hypnotic beauty stems from the band’s ability to balance the destitute frustration of miscommunication with a sense of lightness and elation, delivered through the high-pitched helium-induced trills of the chorus. As lead singer Mark Piccles revealed in a recent interview, "Helium" was written in the aftermath of his grandfather’s death. Piccles wanted to explore the lack of control we ultimately have of our own faculties and to remind himself “to be open, communicate, and connect as often as possible. Because one day everything we say will come out wrong, or not at all.”

The band will release another new single from their new EP very soon, along with tour dates. Stay tuned to their Facebook page for upcoming announcements, and their Soundcloud for new tunes. And catch the band’s vaporous video for the track here: