Wholeness & Separation

Halou

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2006)
• Original Release Date: May 23, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vertebrae
• ASIN: B000EGEKRY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #97,498 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Propulsive and funky drums percolate in the distance, while atmospheric pianos and other acoustic instruments hang in the air. Amidst sweetly and intentionally smeared electronics, breathy and reverb-laden vocals make you want to both have sex and fall asleep at the same time. The warm and inviting vocals of Rebecca Coseboom will please more than just those folks who can't get enough of early Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, or latter day His Name is Alive. Too bad the Matrix film franchise ran itself aground so quickly: these delightful and atmospheric industrial pop songs seem tailor made for their sheen of vaguely intellectual, futuristic soul-seeking. Some tunes on Halou's fourth album do seem like they could make their way to the radio, but most are far too weird, evocative, and ambient (that soundtrack analogy wasn't used just to get sci-fi geeks interested). There's a lot going on within these delightfully goth nursery rhymes. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything is [way beyond] OK., June 29, 2006

By	R O C K E T (The Twin Cities, MN) - See all my reviews

Simple words cannot express how in love I am with this album right now. Halou makes some of the most beautiful music known to man. Just when you think an entire genre is on the verge of death, Halou comes along and not only revives it, but redefines it. It's still trip-hop, but a more organic brand of trip-hop. Guitars, live drums, and orchestration now mingle with Rebecca's heavenly vocals, synth sounds, and electronic beats. A couple songs border on industrial rock, while a couple toward the end almost seem to have been influenced by Sigur Ros. There is a nice variety here, yet it's all very cohesive and maintains a particular atmosphere.

I must admit that none of the tracks quite touch me the way that "Political," "I'll Carry You," and "Oceanwide" from the previous album did, but overall I think I enjoy this album even more. It's still absolutely beautiful...with a tinge of darkness. And I give it extra credit for tossing aside even more musical boundaries than the first. Highlights for me are "Tubefed," "Honeythief," "Everything Is OK," "Morsecode," "Stonefruit," and "The Ratio Of Freckles To Stars." There are also a couple brief instrumentals that add to the mood and help complete the greater picture. I especially love "Alaska," which is reminiscent of an icier Boards Of Canada.

There are certainly elements of Massive Attack, Portishead, Goldfrapp, The Cranes, and Bowery Electric, but on this one there are also similarities to Curve, Garbage, and Khoiba. Some of the dreamy, icy, electronic textures even remind me a bit of Enigma. So basically...it's a combination of my favorite kinds of music, all wrapped up in one beautiful package!

"Wholeness & Separation" has solidified Halou as one of my absolute favorite bands. If you like trip-hop, avant-garde pop, or any brand of ethereal electronica, this album is essential! So is the previous album, "Wiser." And if you like your electronica with a little more OOMP, I also highly recommend Invisible Ballet's "Escaping Light," which is basically a dance-pop record by the same band under a different moniker.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am in awe . . ., October 20, 2007

By	Tyr Shadowblade (TM) (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

If "So Tonight That I May See" by Mazzy Star is the best album ever made, "Wholeness & Separation" by Halou may well be a close second.

This album is brilliant: soothing, calming, ambient mellowness that you can listen to over and over again. Every single track on the album is good.

This is a multi-purpose CD which can be used for settling your mind in rush hour traffic, for focusing your intent during Tantric sex magick, or simply for providing a suitable atmosphere for the ritualistic partaking of top quality sinsemillia.

This CD is about as close to perfection as an artist can get.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very relaxing..., June 22, 2009

By	Shawn Fitzpatrick - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Wholeness & Separation (MP3 Download)

This is very good music to relax or fall asleep to. The album is definitely the best one this band made.