Helium

Released in 2019, Helium marks a significant evolution in the HOMESHAKE project, as Peter Sagar largely traded his signature chorus-drenched guitar for a more expansive, synth-heavy palette. Recorded in his home in Montreal, the album reflects a period of domestic isolation and deep introspection. While Sagar's previous work like 'Midnight Snack' flirted with R&B, Helium strips those influences down to their barest essentials, resulting in a sound that is often categorized as 'slacker-soul' or 'bedroom pop' but possesses a more sophisticated, avant-garde edge. The album is punctuated by short, ambient interludes that reinforce its dreamlike, non-linear structure. Critically, it was noted for its 'helium-thin' textures and its ability to make digital instruments feel organic and fragile. It stands as the most cohesive realization of Sagar's 'bleary-eyed' aesthetic, positioning him as a key figure in the lo-fi electronic landscape of the late 2010s.