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
's distinct maturation cannot overshadow the gorgeous, flowing soundscapes they previously laid down. It's not disheartening by any means, for
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"
"Mad About You"
are thoroughly dramatic and make for an illustrious listen.
has not completely ignored the musical mystery, and the listener shouldn't forget such mastery while
's cultivation had to be perfectly split. ~ MacKenzie Wilson