Helix

The Arc of Helix

The pivots — what forced Helix to reinvent.

1. 01

   The Twin Integration

   Shear and Kattman established the blueprint in 2018 by marrying high-gloss electronic sequencing with vocal melodies that refused to stay buried in the mix. Instead of the typical darkwave murk, the production on the debut was sharp enough to cut glass, forcing the underground synth scene to pay attention to actual songwriting rather than just texture. It was the sound of two veterans realizing they didn't need to overcompensate with noise to make a point. You hear the confidence in the restraint, a rare thing for a first outing in this genre.

2. 02

   The Bad Dream Expansion

   Moving into the 2021 sessions, the project evolved from a curiosity into a primary vehicle for Shear’s most melodic instincts. The rhythms got heavier and the atmosphere took on a darker, more cinematic weight that felt less like a club night and more like a fever dream. Kattman’s vocal layering became more complex, acting as a structural element of the music rather than just a top-line melody. It solidified Helix as a distinct entity that could stand entirely apart from the Assemblage 23 shadow.

Influences

• Depeche Mode — Shear has cited Black Celebration as a foundational text for his understanding of how to balance pop hooks with industrial grime. You hear it in the way Helix uses minor-key synth washes to provide a bed for clean, emotive vocals. It’s the same philosophy of making the synthesizer sound human through vulnerability.
• Fronte 242 — The precise, sequenced percussion in every Helix track is a direct descendant of the Belgian EBM school. Shear’s career-long obsession with programmed rhythms stems from the rigid structures these guys built in the eighties. It’s the mechanical backbone that keeps Kattman’s vocals from drifting off into pure synth-pop territory.
• The Cure — Kattman’s approach to atmospheric vocal delivery often mirrors the layered, melodic gloom found on Disintegration. The influence shows up in the way she uses reverb and harmony to create a sense of vast, empty space. It provides the necessary emotional weight to counter the sterile digital environment of the tracks.
• Gary Numan — The DNA of Numan’s detached, slightly paranoid synthesizer work is all over the Helix catalog. Shear has often discussed Numan’s influence on his transition from a fan to a creator, specifically the 'Replicas' era. You can hear that influence in the dry, upfront lead synths that drive their more aggressive tracks.
• Skinny Puppy — Before he was a master of melody, Shear was deep in the Vancouver industrial scene's influence, particularly the way Cevin Key manipulated soundscapes. While Helix is much cleaner, the intricate sound design and subtle 'glitch' elements in the background are a nod to Puppy's experimental layering. It’s the grit hidden under the shiny surface.