Wholeness & Separation

Album Review

Capturing the drama of the emo scene, the gorgeous soundscapes of ambient, and the rousing rhythms of the club scene, Halou have fast established themselves as one of the most intriguing groups on the modern musical landscape. They have their antecedents, of course, notably the Sneaker Pimps, who also pursued a similar line of deeply atmospheric electro-fired sounds. There's also a touch of Tricky circa Maxinquaye, albeit with a cleaner production style. The dynamics of the music, meanwhile, are currently all the rage in the guitar world, favored by every emo band worth its salt. Put it all together, though, and Halou's sound is very much their own. Needless, to say, it's the tracks that rock out that immediately grab your attention, numbers like the storming "Stonefruit," where Rebecca Coseboom's wispy vocals are virtually lost among the barrage of sound. "Wholeness," in contrast, doesn't so much rock as kick and punch, its insistent rhythm twinned to guitars blown up to massive proportions. The guitars are nearly as big on "Honeythief," but here they're big and beautiful, while it's the grand dynamics that are showcased on "Everything Is OK." But Wholeness & Separation is an eclectic set — in contrast, the quirkily infectious "Tubefed" is much sparser, with the rhythm predominating and glowing guitar highlighting the mesmerizing melody. There are more experimental pieces, while others seem little more than atmospheric sketches, until they slowly solidify into more focused numbers. And while it's all highly creative, Halou wisely include enough strong melodies to carry the pop crowds along with even their most adventurous pieces. At times entrancing, effervescent, rousing, emotive, and ethereal, this trio leaps across musical boundaries with a truly transcendental album.