The Magnificent Tree

by Hooverphonic

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	04/11/2025
Label:	Music On Vinyl
UPC:	8719262038769

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hooverphonic   Primary Artist
Liesje Sadonius   Vocals
Paul Morgan   Celli
Paul Kegg   Celli
Luis Jardim   Percussion
Frank Duchene   Keyboards
Gota Yashiki   Cymbals,Percussion
Cathy Thompson   Violin
Raymond Geerts   Guitar
Justin Pearson   Celli
Matt Dunkley   Conductor
Mark Berrow   Violin
Alex Callier   Bass,Vocals,Keyboards
Bruce White   Viola
Dan Lacksman   Fairlight
Gavyn Wright   Violin
Boguslav Kostecki   Violin
David Daniels   Celli
Jackie Shave   Violin
Geike Arnaert   Vocals
Mary Scully   Bass,Celli
Rebecca Hirsch   Violin
Perry Montague-Mason   Violin
Michiel Dutre   Cello
Christopher Tombling   Violin
Benedict Cruft   Violin
Robert Smissen   Viola
Katie Wilkinson Khoroshunin   Viola
Vaughan Armon   Violin
Sarah Butterfield   Choir/Chorus
Dermot Crehan   Violin
Eric Bosteels   Drums
Tony Pleeth   Celli
Simon Fisher   Violin
Peter Lale   Viola

Technical Credits

Gota Yashiki   Drum Programming
Greg Calbi   Mastering
Roland Herrington   Mixing,Producer
Mark Ryan   Mixing
Arnaert Callier Geerts   Composer
Matt Dunkley   Arranger,String Arrangements
Alex Callier   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming
Dan Lacksman   Engineer
Geike Arnaert   Composer
David Russell   Mixing
Phil Chill   Drum Programming
Tony de Block   Engineer