Wholeness & Separation

Halou | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: May 23, 2006
• Label: Vertebrae
• Copyright: 2006 Vertebrae
• Total Length: 45:59
• Genres: Alternative Rock/Indie & Lo-Fi, Dance & DJ/Electronica
• ASIN: B000QQWIUI
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,868 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 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
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This review is from: Wholeness & Separation (Audio CD)

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.

3 of 3 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
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This review is from: Wholeness & Separation (Audio CD)

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 Halou CD, April 11, 2011

By 

Geremy - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Wholeness & Separation (Audio CD)

I was very pleased with this cd. Actually you made my day. The cd came in perfectly and was wrapped in gift wrapped. I liked that alot!!