Helicopters' New Album To Benefit Gulf

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 29, 2010 5:20PM

Local electro-pop trio Helicopters is using the release of its upcoming album, cleverly titled Slow Leak at the Seam, to help safeguard wildlife affected by the tragedy that is the BP oil spill. Or maybe they’re using the oil spill to spread their new album. Either way, here’s how it works: Every Tuesday, Helicopters will be releasing a new song from the upcoming album on their Bandcamp site. The buyer can download each track for a donation of their choosing, and all proceeds from these tracks (as well as from any music, merch or upcoming shows) will go to the Gulf Restoration Fund and the National Wildlife Federation. Plus, the first 200 people to donate $10 for any given track will get a free download of the album when it’s released this September.

If you’re not familiar with Helicopters, their sound falls somewhere between Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie. You may have seen the trio back in 2007 - they played the first time slot at Lollapalooza after making finalist in Last Band Standing, the festival’s battle of the bands contest. Slow Leak at the Seam will be the act’s third full-length, and from the sound of its first single, “True to My Words,” which was released last week, it seems they’re sticking with the same type of lush layers and warm melodies that worked for them on their last album, Sizing Up the Distance. But we’ll just have to wait and see as they release more tracks in the weeks ahead. Take a listen to today’s track, "Enough," and if you like what you hear, check them out when they play the Subterranean July 14 and donate a few dollars to those oil-covered critters in the gulf.

Helicopters play Wednesday, July 14 at Subterranean, 2011 North Ave, 8 p.m., $8, 21+