Local electro pioneers Twist Helix have spent the best part of two years living and breathing their work in the hope that the hard work would pay off. And it absolutely has. 2018 has seen the band not only signed with Madrid based Paul Black Music, but also released killer single Ouesburn and embark on a 12 date tour of the UK. Not bad for only two months in.
Catching up with Spotlight, one-third of Helix, James advised us that the band were “thrilled at the warm reception Ouseburn was receiving, particularly the way that people in the North East have really gotten behind it!” And to be fair, so they should. Ecstatic, pounding and synth-heavy, Ouseburn sounds like a perfect blend of Yazoo, The Pet Shop Boys and 80s Depeche Mode. Both outwardly cool, and inwardly reflective, Ouseburn is pop music at it’s best; danceable, thought-provoking and chin-nodding.
Taking the next forward is something the Twisters are looking forward to. James was keen to talk up the support and belief being signed has given them “it’s really buoyed our confidence to know we have such a forward-thinking European label’s backing” as well as the future for the band, starting with playing main support to the Van T’s at Noisy Daughters event in Darlington (3rd March), before a headline set at The Independent, Sunderland, on International Women’s Day (8th March) as well as a show on the Tracks Stage at Stockton Calling (31st March).
After touring the band are keen to finish off their next album, a dystopian concept set in the Ouseburn area and examining the concept of art versus commerce. With such an expansive concept in mind, James was, perhaps rightly, keen not be tied into a release date but was happy to let us know that “we’re in a good place right now, but we’re not at the finish line, and we know we’re running a marathon… But luckily, we also know we’re not alone in the race anymore, we’ve got each other, we’ve got our team and most importantly we have a great base of support now at home, friends and fans willing us on.” Let’s hope the Twisters carry on living their work for the foreseeable. Imagine an album where all of the tracks are as interesting as “Ousrebun”, that’s not my idea of dystopian.