The Malady of Elegance

The Malady of Elegance is the second poetic full-length from Boston-based composer Keith Kenniff, better known to some as Helios. Taking cues from Corduroy Road, Keith again restricts himself to the piano in conjuring up his humble soundscapes and again the listener is pulled into a deep, meditative and filmic world as the notes glide to a slow, pensive meter. Keith's Two Point Discrimination EP was a collection of haunting experiments in form and sound, but The Malady of Elegance sees him back into the warming, homespun territory of Corduroy Road. That's not to say these compositions are upbeat, far from it in fact, but there are lines to be drawn to folk music, and while Keith no longer draws on the American Civil War as a primary influence, there is still the sense that the ghosts of old America haunt the keys. Since the release of Corduroy Road, Keith's music has become a staple of documentary filmmakers, feature film producers and even advertising, with Goldmund being the primary focus of this. Countless BBC documentaries and short films have been graced by his memorable compositions and needless to say, The Malady of Elegance will be equally as high-profile in these circles.