The Magnificent Tree: Live With Strings Hooverphonic Artist

Belgium's dream pop trio {|Hooverphonic|} has seemed to creatively move beyond their icy smooth seascape found on 1998's {|Blue Wonder Power Milk|} and shift into a darkwave mood on their third full-length, {|The Magnificent Tree|}. Classic embryonic vocalic beauty from {|Geike Arnaert|} still carries the translucence of the band's signature ethereality, and she shines as hard as she did on the band's previous releases. However, musical composition on songs such as {|Pink Fluffy Dinosaurs|} and {|Frosted Flake Wood|} are more intricate and sonically defined. Chief songwriter and programmer {|Alex Callier|} and guitarist {|Raymond Geerts|} aim for abstract theatrics; multi-instrumentation is brooding and creeping, but {|Hooverphonic|}'s distinct maturation cannot overshadow the gorgeous, flowing soundscapes they previously laid down. It's not disheartening by any means, for {|Hooverphonic|} does compose an attractive depiction of revamped new wave elements and twisted synth-pop in the face of new millennium teendom. They are far from manufactured label-conscious musical fascism, yet still are represented by a major label. But staying true to the {|Julee Cruise|}-like ambience, songs such as {|Out of Sight|} and {|Mad About You|} are thoroughly dramatic and make for an illustrious listen. {|The Magnificent Tree|} has not completely ignored the musical mystery, and the listener shouldn't forget such mastery while {|Hooverphonic|}'s cultivation had to be perfectly split. ~ MacKenzie Wilson