Customer Reviews

Presents Jackie Cane

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jackie Cane is not another trip hop album. god knows the last thing the world needs is another tired Portishead clone.

That's why I like Hooverphonic. They're broadening their horizons and mastering new styles. Jackie Cane has an excellent 20th century Broadway pop feel to it, but you can tell they made use of their years of trip hop experince. Their work over the years has shown that they've really grown up and they know how to experiment with the musical toys they're given.

For this reason Hooverphonic can't be classified as just another one-dimensional trip hop band. They have a diverse resumé that proves their ability in many fields. To me, this is a sign of talent.

This album is truly the best ever! As far as different musical styles, melodies, etc. Hooverphonic has come a far way from 'Blue Wonder Powder Milk' and raise the bar yet again on this studio outset. Key songs are: "World Is Mine", "Nirvana Blue", and "One".

Sorry, for my first review this is a solid effort and I love it! I guess after the "Magnificent Tree" I felled to really try to listen to this accuratley! The truth is the production on this lp is Amazingly entertaining and diverse!

Well, I have to say with a straight face that I was wrong for dissing this album. After hearing "Massive Attacks" bland latest attempt. And the uneven "Thievery Corporation's -Babylon, I have to say this is a Damn good Lp! I sat back and actually listen to it and I was impressed. Each individual song is actually telling a story about this "Jackie Cane Character". I have to honestly say the production on this lp is alot more elaborate than the previous lps. But the style isn't as dark and tripped out as the previous 3 efforts. They tried to do a commercial type deal, but yet and still the production is to elaborate. This lp still slips in and out of the amazing production of the past efforts and some better. I don't think these guys are capable of just a average produced product. I wasn't very fond of "The Magnificent Tree" because I felt is was missing something. And it was really a drastic transition from "Blue Wonder!" But "Jackie Cane" definitey on the production stand point makes up for the last effort. But I still would have to say "2 Wicky, Renassance affair & Eden" are my favorite tracks from the Belgium trio. I also can tell that they have a different lead vocalist which really I think made a difference in their musical direction. On their first two efforts they had more of a dreamy Trip Hop female vocalist. On "Magnificent and there Latest this woman sounds more like a "Broadway/POP vocalist. But over all these tracks all have a unique identity unlike some of there previous work it kinda ran together. Not that is a bad thing the other tracks on the previous lps had more of a ambient quality to them. "One" is easily one of the standouts and the closest to traditional Hooverphonic you will hear on this lp. "Human Interest" is a string based composition with a Catchy Hook! "Nirvanna Blue" is a really beautiful mid tempo soft rock type track. Very reminiscent of some of "Morcheeba" second lp sounding material. "The world is Mine" is a latin based track with a James Bond quality to it. "Jackie's delirium" is a really nice cruizing song with a nice beat.It has a weird repeating distorted vocal on it. "Sad Song" is a beautiful Piano composition with spare vocals, it really works."Shampoo" has a nice beat with a weird synth sound to it very elclectic. "Others Delight" the obvious second stand out track with tight production. This track has a reggie dub feel with a heavy riding bass and jumpy Drum N Bass drums. "Opium" is a darker sounding electronic track with s wicked feel. "The Last Supper" easily the 3rd stand out track. Very wicked sounding erie Piano based track with strings for support. Very reminisent of "Emiliania Torrini's Gollums Song" from "The Two Towers" soundtrack. "Opium" flows into "The last Supper" like they are the same composition because of the same piano riff. "The Kiss" is a nice piano compositon to end the lp with a sadness to it. Overall this is a entertaining and very diverse lp for the Begium trio. I don't think they will gain any commercal success from this because it is still very sophisticated. These guys are too complex for the average commercial market. Just as "Mandalay" tried to do commercial music and it was still to ahead of it's time. This band will fall under that same stigma they will never be like everyone else, is it a gift or a curse?

Arish

To those who don't know anything about Hooverphonic.. they're an orchestral/acoustic Belgian group with Portishead/trip-hop sensibilities. Hard to comprehend, but their music tends to sound similar to that of Portishead, Mono, or Lamb, but without the electronics. With deliciously smooth vocals on top, Hooverphonic makes a very appetizing dish.

And so Belgium's own orchestracoustic group are back with their fourth album, 'Jackie Cane'. Jackie Cane is an opera, of sorts. A story is told from start to finish, that of the tragic rise and fall of pop singer Jackie Cane. You don't need to know the story to appreciate the album, but basically this album musically conveys how someone rises to fame, and then collapses due to drugs and insanity.

The single 'The World Is Mine' is the fourth track on the album, and signifies Jackie's high point before crashing down into insanity. The song encapsulates all of the joy, ego, and ecstasy of being famous, being at the top, and lapping it all up. It's not a typical Hooverphonic song, since it has quite a pop sensability, with jazzy horns bursting through, cheesy backing vocals and a real retro nightclub feel.

Old Hooverphonic fans should be most interested by 'Human Interest', something that recalls 'Eden' days. 'Something' and 'One' seem like natural progressions for Hooverphonic, with their trademark string based sound, but with a mild electronica feel creeping in and James Bond style guitar in the background.

'The Last Supper' is the penultimate track, and signifies the day Jackie dies.

'The Kiss (of Death)', a piano and string piece, ends the album at the point after Jackie has died. Rather than being morbid or depressing, it sensitively focuses on how one should find dignity in death, how death removes our chains from us, and how life goes on. An amazing end to an amazing album. This goes straight into my top 10 list of albums.

"Some say because it's over, we should be sad but that's not true. Cuz death may seem something nasty but it belongs to me and you. Don't try to avoid your destiny, accept this kiss with dignity. In this embrace you'll find relief, get rid of all your grief."

Trip hop was the tag given to music comparable to this back about six years ago, when people realized that groups such as Massive Attack, Dubstar and Morcheeba were worthy of a slot on their cd racks. Belgium's Hooverphonic can effortlessly be added to the list, full of soothing beats, and the angelic voice of Geike Arnaert. Although the faster (in a unhurried sense) tempo material such as "Sometimes" and "Human Interest" are the preferred preference of this assessor, songs such as "Nirvana Blue" and "Jackie's Delirium" are no less convincing. The graceful funk of "The World Is Mine" may remind the addressees (ie. you!) of Morcheeba's newer material, but the overly electronic "Shampoo" fails to gratify unfortunately. The lush anxiety of the closing "The Last Supper" and "The Kiss" are emotional songs to part with, more then making up for the previously mentioned fault. "Jackie Cane" presents the perfect backdrop for a lazy Sunday afternoon drive in the country to watch the leaf colours change.

THIS ALBUM MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A SUPERHERO. Really the perfect blend of trip hop and pop that just makes you feel SO fantastic, and it's really good musically, good beats, complex layering.

This doesn't sound like the Hooverphonic of the previous 3 albums at all. I'm not sure what it is. Just what it isn't. It isn't the old Hooverphonic. I didn't like any of the tracks at all. It's just not my kind of music.

I saw this coming after I bought the "Magnificent tree" that I so expeditiously rushed back to the store and got my money back ! And in my opinion it was far from Magnificent and lacked creativity! I don't understand how this band even got excepted as Trip Hop. Most of there material is more "Ambient" with orchestration and vocals. But I believe they were considered worthy of the Triphop archieves because of "2 Wicky and Eden." This band after "Blue wonder" has been on a mission to try to impress. The first two efforts were good lp's a blend of ambient dreamy electronic songs with Orchestral arrangements. The only reason "Hoover" got my attention in the first place, was because of the funky futuristic Portishead sounding "2 wickey." Featured on the 1996 "Stealing Beauty Soundtrack"! And when the debut came out I was a bit disappointed but it grew on me. The debut personified a totally different sound and "2 wicky" was definitley out of place on the cd. "2 wicky" in my opinion and "Eden" is as funky and trippy as it gets with the trio. They have never lived up to the futuristic sound and expectations of those two songs in my opinion. They also lost the dreamy vocalist from the first two albums and I believe it had a barren on their creativity as well. If this is the direction they were headed I believe I know why she left. The new vocalist has a more "Broadway/Jazz type voice which I think is just alright, but a times a bit over dramatic! "Renaissance Affair" was the next really catchy song that they delivered originally on "BLue Wonder" lp . This song was eventually tacted on to the "Magificent album" after it gained heat off the Volkswagon commercial. "Magnificent" was merely a Trip Hop cd nor did it have the dreamy vibe of their previous work. "Magnificnent" was a soundtrack like lp that was a bit more upbeat from their usual, with a rock vibe. I didn't like it personally..it was very bland and boring. Hooverphonic lacks alot of soul and creativity in my opinion. They never had the funk and blend of Hiphop or balance that others have such as Portishead, Tricky, Bjork or even Mono. They I feel need to do instrumental soundtracks and call it a day. And this bland and cheesy effort "Jackie Cane" just proves it. This is basically a sountrack without a film, How stupid is that ? The songs are cheesy and reminisent of a Bad late 80's to early 90's James Bond flick. It has a couple of decent songs but when you know they are capable of better material you can't except those decent songs. I think it is time for them to look for another occupation in the music field. They do have talent but I think it needs to me shot in the right direction. I am giving this oe extra star for it's effort and Ochestral arrangements that is it! I also think these guys need to listen to a little more hip hop to give them a more soulful edge to their music. I guarantee they will not get the acclaim they were fortunate to get in the past with this. I didn't purchase this cd, I heard this from a associate of mine and wasn't a bit impressed as I figured I wouldn't be. Just as Tricky Fell Off, (which I thought was far more creative) has choosen an unsuitable path, I think this band has done the same. This is foolishness and a fiasco at best!

Later