Having heard their subsequent albums, I am certain a chip in the head of Alex Callier malfunctioned or someone else wrote the first album. The moods and rhythms evoked by this first album are far more complex than most of the songs on Blue Wonder Power Milk and most definitely the trite Magnificent Tree.

From the first hypnotic track, Inhaler, this album is like a syren that draws you in closer and closer. With Liesje's departure, something was lost. Nr9 is a remarkable song. I've never quite heard anything like it.

Musically, this album is layered from beginning to end with dreamy instrumentals, and the beats...trip hop, drum and bass, or whatever you want to call it, that isn't mired in an orchestral overkill of synthetic strings or your latest band to add a few string arrangements to add credibility to their music. That is what they've done on their second and third albums, unfortunately. Like Orson Welles, Hooverphonic hit their peak with their first work. They achieved a sound that is nothing like Portishead, only to the virginal listener who finds Moloko, Mono and Olive to all sound the same. Only time will tell if Hooverphonic comes to their senses, which I doubt they will with how far out they've ventured from their original charm.

So you're probably wondering what compelled me to buy this, right? Well it would definitely be because of their amazing sophmore release, BLUE WONDER POWER MILK. That CD is one of the best albums in my very vast and very eclectic collection. It's one CD that hardly ever leaves the player. Now while their debut album, A NEW STEREOPHONIC SOUND SPECTACULAR may not be as good as their second recording it is still quite tasty for a first-time offering. This talented Belgian group definitely has the potential to make it big-time in the underground arena for their hypnotic blend of trip-hop and lounge-pop are quite arresting atop the soft, airy vocals of female singer Liesje Sadonius along with Raymond Geerts (guitar & breaths), Frank Duchene (engineering, keyboards), and Alex Callier (programming & keyboards). Some might actually compare Hooverphonic with Portishead (probably because of the vocals) but I think that that's preposterous. If anything they resemble Morcheeba the best for the culled sound textures that are absolutely dreamy.

Now I do recommend this album but I honestly feel that their sophmore release is a much better album to start with.

By the way, my favorite songs include the more electronic based Inhaler and Wardrobe along with Barabas (which sounds more like something you'd find on their second album just because of the instrumentation), Someone and Innervoice (which both remind me of Joydrop...)

Hope my review was somehow helpful... Bye!

Hooverphonic is incessantly compared to Portishead, but the comparison really only holds for the big single off this disk, 2Wicky. Next to Portishead, Hooverphonic has better grooves and isn't quite as dark, angry, or strained. This disc is really closer to Massive Attack's newer stuff (off Mezzanine) than anything from Portishead. Like their second album, this disc provides a wide range of musical styles and influences. Hooverphonic shows more drum'n'bass influence than most other acts classified as "trip hop," as well as more instrumentation and depth of sound. Besides, Liesje (the vocalist on this album) has an incredible voice. Here's the bottom line--buy this. If you liked the second album, buy this. If you like Massive Attack, buy this. :-)

It seems like most reviewers are fans of Portishead and Massive Attack, and find Hooverphonic close in style. To me that is totally wrong. Hooverphonic delivers in my opinion pure beautifull dreampop, with Liesje Sadonius angelvoice, and haunting very beutifull emotional music, and to me they are not even comparable to the other bands. The best track of the album is the fantastic Sarangi, where Liesje almost reaches the vocal beuty of God Mylene Farmer ( I have no idea why other reviewers dont like it, but I guess it could be because they are based in a wrong music style to realy enjoy Hooverphonics dreampopsound ) But also the very beutifull tracks Inhaler, Someone and Innervoice, makes this album a mark in musichistory. By the way if you like this album theck out the cd Repertoire from unknown danish band Luksus if you can find it, and of course also the second album from Hooverphonic. Eventhough it has a different not just as good singer in Geike Arnaert, it is still a brilliant album.

this CD never leaves my sight...it's in the car...it's downloaded on my computer at work...it's in the CD player at home. if there were ever a group to take you in a new direction of music, allow Hooverphonic to lead the way. dreamy...otherworldly...hypnotic. little bit of trip-hop...trip-pop...lounge...and vocals that will leave you wanting more after every listen. when i'm listening to this at work, i always get the "who's this? it's really good...wow." trust me...this debut release from this Belgian band is incredible. i have yet to get the other two albums (milk and tree)...a bit scared of tarnishing my view i suppose. nonetheless...you owe it yourself as a fan of music to get this CD and experience what is known as a "New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular".