A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular

Hooverphonic

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 15, 1997)
• Original Release Date: April 15, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002BVY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,586 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #37 in	Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Belgium
  #100 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Ambient Pop

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Out of print in the U.S.! Import pressing of the 1997 album from the Belgian Ambient/Electronic Pop band (originally known as Hoover in Europe). 1 tracks including 'Inhaler', '2Wicky', 'Barabas', 'Someone' and more. Sony/BMG. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trip Hop and so much more!, December 31, 1999

By	Cliff L. Biffle "witty phrase in quotation marks" (Tempe, Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hooverphonic is incessantly compared to Portishead, but the comparison really only holds for the big single off this disk, 2Wicky. Next to Portishead, Hooverphonic has better grooves and isn't quite as dark, angry, or strained. This disc is really closer to Massive Attack's newer stuff (off Mezzanine) than anything from Portishead. Like their second album, this disc provides a wide range of musical styles and influences. Hooverphonic shows more drum'n'bass influence than most other acts classified as "trip hop," as well as more instrumentation and depth of sound. Besides, Liesje (the vocalist on this album) has an incredible voice. Here's the bottom line--buy this. If you liked the second album, buy this. If you like Massive Attack, buy this. :-)

55 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Album Wonder in Retrospect..., October 6, 2000

By	Danny Kim "Connoisseur" (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews

Having heard their subsequent albums, I am certain a chip in the head of Alex Callier malfunctioned or someone else wrote the first album. The moods and rhythms evoked by this first album are far more complex than most of the songs on Blue Wonder Power Milk and most definitely the trite Magnificent Tree.

From the first hypnotic track, Inhaler, this album is like a syren that draws you in closer and closer. With Liesje's departure, something was lost. Nr9 is a remarkable song. I've never quite heard anything like it.

Musically, this album is layered from beginning to end with dreamy instrumentals, and the beats...trip hop, drum and bass, or whatever you want to call it, that isn't mired in an orchestral overkill of synthetic strings or your latest band to add a few string arrangements to add credibility to their music. That is what they've done on their second and third albums, unfortunately. Like Orson Welles, Hooverphonic hit their peak with their first work. They achieved a sound that is nothing like Portishead, only to the virginal listener who finds Moloko, Mono and Olive to all sound the same. Only time will tell if Hooverphonic comes to their senses, which I doubt they will with how far out they've ventured from their original charm.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular? Indeed, May 24, 2001

By	Christopher R. Cicatelli "cicatelli" (bethesda, md) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

this CD never leaves my sight...it's in the car...it's downloaded on my computer at work...it's in the CD player at home. if there were ever a group to take you in a new direction of music, allow Hooverphonic to lead the way. dreamy...otherworldly...hypnotic. little bit of trip-hop...trip-pop...lounge...and vocals that will leave you wanting more after every listen. when i'm listening to this at work, i always get the "who's this? it's really good...wow." trust me...this debut release from this Belgian band is incredible. i have yet to get the other two albums (milk and tree)...a bit scared of tarnishing my view i suppose. nonetheless...you owe it yourself as a fan of music to get this CD and experience what is known as a "New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular".