Night Before =jewel= [Import]

So I've seen enough nasty, scathing reviews here on Amazon, derailing this album's success stateside because it fails to recapture the "magic" of A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular. I guess I just don't understand. Of course it doesn't sound like that album... that was over a decade ago, people. Quit badmouthing the group because they have altered their style.

What sets this album apart is two-fold; first off is the inclusion of new lead singer Noémie Wolfs, who sounds like a dream. As a lover of any music Geike Arnaert puts her voice behind, I really didn't want to like this chick. But Ms. Wolfs has a sound that is her own and really lends itself well to Hooverphonic's musical style as well as the songs found on this disc. "Heartbroken", "Norwegian Stars", and "How Can U Sleep" are great showcases of her vocals which, while don't seem to be immediately challenged by the songs themselves, do succeed at showcasing how well the young singer does (no real experience before joining the band). It will be interesting to see how she works with the band in the current live shows, especially on older tracks.

The other reason this sounds different (and, by different I want to re-stress that I mean in comparison to Sound Spectacular) its because songwriter and group founder Alex Callier has stretched for a different sound since the band's early days. I mean, even as early as Blue Wonder Power Milk the group has been moving from an electronic sound and more toward a pop-ish act. A pop-ish act that constantly uses strings as a method of musical storytelling, not just as a one-off gimmick. Listen to "Battersea", the first track on Blue Wonder and listen to those strings. No song on Sound Spectacular compares to that opening track. And its real strings, not synth or computer sound effects. Alex has always loved strings and uses them more and more. Each album since their debut has had this move away from "trip-hop" and made its way where it is, now. And, in relation to this album in particular, while not the most layered or complex album the group has presented us with, some songs are interestingly put together. There are parts of "Heartbroken" that are so sweeping and self-enveloping that its really a treat to listen to. "Sunday Afternoon" and "One, Two, Three" feature similar stuff, while "Encoded Love" has such an awesome and ever-present bass line. I don't know how you could hate it.

So, while The Night Before is not the band's best album (I hold true to Magnificent Tree and No More Sweet Music, myself), its not bad. Here's the deal, though; as this is - I believe - still an import, you should really investigate the current sound of the group before you buy it. Websites in Belgium (www.standaard.be for example) have pages up where you can stream the entire album for free. Or, you know, YouTube exists, people. If you've EVER listened to an album by this group and thought to yourself "I don't know if I like the style these guys write toward, anymore" don't just buy the album. You might be like one of the many reviewers here that don't care for the new sound. I checked the web first, listened to the album, fell in love with the album, and THEN made my purchase. I suggest you do the same.

PS: To those of you that have slammed the album for any reason, the album is good. Not great. How many bands these days stop putting out good music after a few albums? These guys have put out 8 (counting Sit Down and Listen to) and to get even a "good" album is a blessing. Take what you can get or, you know, research this stuff before spending money. THAT IS ALL.

Too bad - they used to be daring and inventive, ready to take over the world with appearances on major movie soundtracks, TV shows, and international ad campaigns. But then the decision to veer away from the chill trip-hop of their first three albums to a more mainstream pop sound. The real change of direction: a "showtunes" album "Hooverphonic Presents Jackie Cane", afterwhich a return-to-form of sorts with the nice "No More Sweet Music". Two years ago, the band, now without a label, released a Hooverphonic-meets-the-psychedelic-sixties" album with the oddly-titled "President of the LSD Golf Club". How much did the failure of that album affect the band? Their long-time singer Geike Arnaert quit, and they spent the last two years looking for a suitable replacement, which they actually have found, in Noemi Wolfs. Songwriter Alex Callier said in an interview that this album was a "return to the roots of Hooverphonic". He must be talking about another album, because what I hear here is a combination of the Jackie Cane and Golf Club albums, two of their least interesting releases. When it's good, it still mimics better songs from earlier albums, and when it's bad, it's just downright boring, easy-listening pop music, without any edge (gone: all vestiges of electronica and layered texturing). Even worse, the whole thing clocks in at a paltry 38 minutes, with many songs simply fading out before they even kick in. I still find "A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular" and "Blue Wonder Power Milk" to be two of the coolest albums of the late nineties - even "A Magnificent Tree" still gets a lot of spins in my CD player. But with this new one, the unique qualities that made Hooverphonic Hooverphonic seem to have left the building with Geike Arnaert. Again, a pleasant-enough listen, with a few nods to the past, but overall, simply no longer thrilling. (Hey, if you really miss The Cardigans, this album might work for you!)

Like others, I hated to see Geike leave the group. I thought maybe the creativity had left with the dark "LSD Club" CD. However, this CD is a very refreshing return to melodic atmosphere that I love about Hooverphonic. Noémie's voice is spectacular, Alex's compositions are some of his best, and the production/mixing is once again, some of the best in the industry. I have listened to this CD a hundred times and still get chills on Heartbroken and Norwegian Stars when I am able to listen with the headphones on loud.
Alex stated in an interview he was aiming to create songs that would end up on the charts and he hit that mark and then some. Catchy melodies, great bass lines, nice guitar and piano work, and yes, very nice string arrangements accompanying the melodies make this CD my favorite CD of this year. Now if Sony would promote them in the USA, Alex, Raymond, and Noémie could enjoy more success than they ever dreamed of.