The famous Belgian band Hooverphonic is coming on the 29th of September with the new album Reflection to Prague! The 8th studio album Reflection came out in November 2013 and was recorded directly in houses of fans. The album is without doubt one of the most lively, energetic and up-tempo albums the band has ever made. On Reflection, which meanwhile is the second album with singer Noémie Wolfs, Hooverphonic has made a decisive return to the natural analogue sound. “I have problems with the standardisation of our times. The computer has put everything within reach of everyone. Everything is preset. Every sound effect, every reverb is but a plug-in away. However, everything you hear is digitally produced, and misses depth and naturalness. This album is a reaction to present-day recording and thinking. I wanted to record in rooms that had never been used before by other bands”, says Alex Callier.
Which explains why the band came up with ‘Hooverdomestic’. A project appealing to anyone with music in their heart & soul to have their home transformed for a week into a recording studio for the new album. Of the 180 candidates, 4 were found to be ideal: a brickworks in Boom restored to a loft, two majestic houses in Gent-Brugge and the Champagne region and an old farm belonging to an artist in Kermt. “In fact five, because we’ll also be recording vocals in a church… after all, it is the house of God”, says Alex Callier with a smile.
Atmosphere is created in no small way by the acoustics in a space or room. And reverb is neither more nor less than the ‘reflections’ of sound waves. And Reflection is what this new album is all about. Setting up drums in a dining room and miking the church organ. Installing speakers in the lounge and at the altar, some distance away. And then recording the natural reverb of instrument and voice in that space. Something like the echo chambers of the fifties. Wood panelling, parquet floors, brick walls, moulding, empty corridors and high ceilings. The result is as eclectic as it is infectious. Perfect in its imperfection. “It’s turned out to be a ‘dirty’ album. Raw, no frills. Simply pure and natural. What we play, is what you get! No cutting and pasting”, explains Alex Callier.
What’s also striking is the absence of strings this time around. Instead, three fresh new voices. “It was natural to me, and important, that her voice should be right there in the mix for all to hear this time. So the strings had to go.”, explains Alex. Which is why the band went in search of an extra dimension, in search of backing vocalists to add that “naive sixties feel”.
In spite of all the damp and the hum, it’s obvious that the new direction Hooverphonic’s taken on Reflection has really hit the spot. The reactions to Amalfi, the first single to be taken from the album, couldn’t be better. Just 3 weeks after release it stood on #1 in the national Belgian airplay chart and found itself a steady spot in the top10 of the national single sales chart. The strongest start ever from the band. And the start of a new, wild ride…
Till the end of July are the tickets available for 590CZK, from August on for 690CZK. You can buy the tickets at the cash desk of the LMB (without fee), at the web of the LMB or at GoOut.cz, Ticketpro, Ticketportal and Eventim.
