Hooverphonic

Geike Arnaert – vocals
Alex Callier programming, bass, keyboards
Raymond Geerts – guitar

Think of what makes music great. Originality. Vision. Passion. A distinctive voice. The ability and power to move you; to stir up emotions in the listener. Judged by those standards, Hooverphonic already has emerged as a great band.

From its inception, the celestial Hooverphonic sound seemed to beam down from another universe. It was unique, different, and subtly exoticwhich may explain, among other things, why the groups work has proven so popular with movie directors in search of haunting, unforgettable music. Their songs have been heard in such films as Stealing Beauty, The Real Blonde, and I Know What You Did Last Summer and its sequel.

The Magnificent Tree is Hooverphonic’s third and most accomplished album. The album contains eleven outstanding new songs, including the neo-psychedelic title song “The Magnificent Tree”; “Mad About You,” with a sweeping orchestral arrangement supporting Geike Arnaert’s masterful vocal; and the dreamy melody and shuffling rhythms of “Out of Sight.”

Alex Callier remains the programmer, bass player and chief songwriter of Hooverphonic. When asked about his primary musical influences, Alex would say simply “my fathers record collection.” Callier Senior acquainted his offspring with sounds as diverse as those of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Sly & the Family Stone, Brazilian bossa nova, French chansonniers like Serge Gainsbourg, and classic pop from bands such as the Beatles. In his own time, Alex discovered the moods and inspirations of such alternative rock pioneers as The Smiths, New Order, Cocteau Twins, David Sylvian and The Pixies.

In 1991, Alex Callier, who already knew and worked with Raymond Geerts, met Frank Duchíne while both were attending film school, and the three began playing music together. The three put plans of forming a band into motion and then recruited a rhythm section and the first of several singers. “Raymond was in several cover bands,” Alex recalls. “I played in another band that sounded like Sonic Youth. And Frank started his musical career in the Antwerp Cathedral Choir.”

The group’s earliest efforts bore the marked influences of their musical heroes: soundtrack composers such as Angelo Badalamenti, and atmospheric pop bands like Portishead and Massive Attack. “Inhaler” was the first Hooverphonic song to indicate their unique niche; subsequent demos aroused interest from at least five major record companies.

Sony Music won outand Hooverphonics debut album, A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular (with Liesje Sadonius on vocals), was released in the US in April 1997. Mixed by Roland Harrington (Bjork, Simply Red, Soul II Soul), the album spawned an international radio hit, “2 Wicky,” propelled by its memorable guitar sample from Isaac Hayes’ classic “Walk On By.” The group’s next break came when the song was included in the soundtrack of Bernardo Bertolucci’s film, Stealing Beauty, starring Liv Tyler.

Soon, Hooverphonic’s hectic touring schedule became too much for singer Liesje Sadonius, and she made an amicable departure. In September 1997, Hooverphonic supported Fiona Apple on a seven-week tour of North America. Critical accolades came from Greil Marcus in Interview (“…a coolly brilliant recordit beckons you to play it again and again”) and Britain’s The Face, which declared ANSSS “…perfectly made for those rain-swept autumn days…Hooverphonic manage to embrace pan-global influences from trip-hop to salsa.”

The band was soon at work on its sophomore effort, Blue Wonder Power Milk, this time with producer Mark Plati (David Bowie, The Cure). In sessions in Belgium and New York, Hooverphonic expanded its range with an array of crucial sonic details and the deployment of violins, French horns, lutes, mandolins and spectral drums. Prior to the album’s US release in August 1998, Hooverphonic toured Europe with Massive Attack in May; and contributed a cover of “Shake The Disease” to a Depeche Mode tribute album.

In the fall of 1998, Hooverphonic toured Europe on a hip triple bill with Moloko and DJ Kid Loco; returned to the US in November for dates with Duncan Sheik; then closed the year with two weeks of headlining US shows. The group earned a Best Video nomination (for “Eden”) at the Utah No Dance Film & Multimedia festival.

In 1999, founding band member Frank Duchíne left Hooverphonic. Alex Callier, in a solo effort, composed the score to the Belgian movie Shades (starring Mickey Rourke), with musical contributions from both Geike Arnaert and Raymond Geerts. The soundtrack included a Hooverphonic cover version of the Dave Berry cult classic “This Strange Effect,” and in the end was better received than the movie itself.

By now, Geike Arnaert was established as Hooverphonic’s secret weapon. Like Liz Fraser in the Cocteau Twins or Tracey Thorn in Massive Attack, Geike’s intense singing is perfectly fitted to her band’s unorthodox, mesmerizing songs. In contrast to her frail voice and looks, Geike is a trooper: She was touring and recording with Hooverphonic within a month of their first joint rehearsal.

Guitarist and founding member Raymond Geerts started his musical career as the key member of various cover bands – a great way to learn pop music, as any musician knows. It’s never about solos with Raymond: His inventive, layered riffs always support the songs.

Alex Callier says the group’s aim is “to make great pop songs that have a prominent, distinctive atmosphere. The combination of accessible melodies and wistful moods is one I hear too rarely in contemporary pop music.” Hooverphonic are masters of the great pop song: Hear them now on The Magnificent Tree.