Helen Gillet - Helkiase (2018)

Helen Gillet's 2018 solo album is Inspired by Helkiase, a cure-all medicine invented by the nuns of Notre Dame à la Rose hospital in Lessines, Belgium. [The hospital was one of Europe's longest continually operating hospitals founded in XIII's century]. Gillet's latest music deals with the more recent personal layers of complicated grief and finding new strength, sense of humor and inspiration. This recording captures the current spirit of Gillet's live performance and features her newest original songs "Slow Drag Pavageau" written about legendary dancer and New Orleans bassist Alcide Pavageau, as well as "You Found Me," "Skin," and "Vautour,"song inspired by Israeili composer and artist Naama Tsabar. All songs are performed by Helen Gillet using a Boss RC50 Loop station and mainly cello and voice. Tracks 7 "Tonnerre" and 4 "Helkiase" use a Moog Sub Fatty synthesizer and vinyl scratching of a famous 1940 General de Gaulle speech.