Goldmund is an alias of Keith Kenniff aka Helios. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Keith Kenniff has toured internationally as a percussionist, and as a performer under his projects Helios and Goldmund.
In 2006, Keith scored the music for Honda’s successful “Asimo” ad campaign, which was awarded the Silver award in the British Television Awards in 2007. Since then he has been involved with other projects for MTV, BBC, Audi, Deutsche Telekom, and American Express. Most recently Keith has provided music for a trailer for the film Revolutionary Road starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo Di Caprio.
Keith’s solo piano music under the moniker Goldmund has been featured on programs produced for the BBC, NPR, and filmmaker Harmony Korine’s latest film “Mister Lonely”. As Helios he has released 4 records to date, including the album “Eingya” which quickly made it’s way to many critic’s top 10 lists for 2006.
‘The Malady of Elegance’ is his second poetic full-length Album. Taking cues from ‘Corduroy Road’ Keith again restricts himself to the piano in conjuring up his humble soundscapes and again we are pulled into a deep, meditative and filmic world as the notes glide to a slow, pensive meter.
Goldmund – In A Notebook
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=EghjYfGtXTI
Keith’s last release was the challenging ‘Two Point Discrimination’ EP, released on the Western Vinyl label as part of their portrait series, but where that record was a collection of haunting experiments in form and sound, ‘The Malady of Elegance’ sees us back into the warming, homespun territory of ‘Corduroy Road’.
That’s not to say these compositions are upbeat, far from it in fact, but there are lines to be drawn to folk music, and while Keith no longer draws on the American Civil War as a primary influence there is still the sense that the ghosts of old America haunt the keys.
On top of these references we see Keith tripping somewhat fittingly into a flickering filmic world somewhat in line with his taste in European film. There is a delicate narrative on show throughout the record from the opening hopefulness of Image-Autumn-Womb through the melancholy of Now to the sensitive romance of the album’s closer Evelyn.
Goldmund – Threnody
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=LvOoQ0Ff2nA
Listening to the record almost creates its own cinematic accompaniment in the minds eye, and this is simply a testament to Ketih’s incredible talents as a composer.
Fans of Erik Satie, Sylvain Chauveau and Hauschka need look no further, ‘The Malady of Elegance’ is a deeply personal meditation which you cannot help but get lost inside
http://www.myspace.com/goldmundmusic | http://www.typerecords.com
