Halou

TRIP HOP X L'AGE D'OR SERIES #74

The debut album of the quite well-known trip-hop/dream pop band from San Francisco, Halou, was actually not their first album. Before that, they recorded under the name Anymore an album called Umani and an EP called Thistlestar. Back then, there was an extra member and their sound was different. Only few songs from Umani anticipated the juicy and alert style from We Only Love You.
So, OK, sometimes this sounds more like drum'n'bass than like trip-hop, but I hope that does not hinder you from enjoying this masterpiece. By the way, I highly recommend listening to it by the sea or something...


Tracklisting:
1. Halfbreath (5:22) / 2. Loop in Blue (6:19) / 3. Ifish (5:33) / 4. La Mer (6:13) / 5. Clip (2:51) / 6. Present Tense (5:15) / 7. It Was Safer When You Were Near (4:53) / 8. You Are One of Us (5:14) / 9. Feeling This Is Like to Fall Awake (5:16) / 10. I'll Carry You (Full Version) (7:47)

(FLAC on request )  / MP3 320kbps

Sans Soucie (2000) is a compilation of rarities, outtakes, remixes of the songs from the first album as well as 3 songs from the album published as Anymore, "Thistlestar". A lot of great songs where you can hear more and more the Halou we know and love. Highly recommended.

Tracklisting:
1. Present Tense (Different) (4:21) / 2. Lovesong (Original Demo) (6:02) / 3. Half-Gifts (4:19) / 4. I'll Carry You Two (6:35) / 5. Blue Eye Smile Girl (4:29) / 6. Words (6:11) / 7. You are One of Us (Grassy Knoll) / 8. I'll Carry You (Edit) (6:20) / 9. Dog Dreams (5:47) / 10. Heroine (4:56) / 11. They Bite (4:34)

(MP3 256kbps)

Wiser (2001) sets what would become the trademark sound of the band: "dream pop" with trip-hop bands, as the critics put it. However you name it, it's definitely something beautiful and worth exploring. Some of the best songs from the previous songs, like "I'll Carry You", are redone here, though pale in comparison with the new material. "Milkdrunk" and "Oceanwide" are two examples of songs that have been stuck on my replay list.

Tracklisting:
1. Milkdrunk (4:53) / 2. Wiser (4:36) / 3. Him to Me to You (4:11) / 4. Political (3:24) / 5. I'll Carry You (5:57) / 6. Before There Was Color (4:27) / 7. Oceanwide (7:13) / 8. I Would Love to Give Up (3:54) / 9. Feeling This is Like to Fall Awake (4:47) / 10. We Only Love You (5:17) / 11. Arrhythmia (5:41)

(MP3 192kbps)

Wholeness & Separation (2006) is a whole new album, with a whole new vision. Pun aside, Halou's style is getting more complex here; whilst many elements still remind of Wiser, the band generally comes with a more serious and - in the same time - intimate approach, reminding somewhere of post-rock and IDM.

Tracklisting:
1. Separation / 2. Tubefed / 3. Honeythief / 4. Everything is OK / 5. Morsecode / 6. Stonefruit / 7. Your Friends / 8. The Ratio of Freckles to Stars / 9. Alaska / 10. Wholeness / 11. Today / 12. Hollow Bones / 13. I Am Warm / 14. Things Stay the Same

(MP3 APS VBR)

Wholeness EP (2003) contains a few additional versions and songs from the same period as W&S.

Tracklisting:
1. Everything is OK / 2. Ingenue / 3. The Ratio of Freckles to Stars / 4. Wholeness / 5. Wiser (Different) / 6. Firefly

(MP3 320kbps)

Separation EP (2006) contains a few additional versions and songs from the same period as W&S.

Tracklisting:
1. Honeythief / 2. Everything is OK (Different) / 3. Exoskeleton / 4. Far Too Far / 5. Tubefed (Score)

(MP3 320kbps)

Albatross EP (2006) is an interesting set of rarities circa W&S period, essential for fans, if not for all of the songs, at least for "One Sunny Day", one of their most sincere songs.

Tracklisting:
1. Cello (1:12) / 2. Ingenue (Different) (4:45) / 3. Albatross (3:43) / 4. One Sunny Day (4:37) / 5. Night Divides the Girls (2:58)

(MP3 320kbps)

Here are a few remixes done by Halou, an obscure EP named "Threesongs/Oceanwide Symphony" that is probably not an official Halou release (may not be actually by Halou) and an official internet single, "Simple" that was available for purchase on the official site of the band and was created in the Wiser era.

Cause and Effect - Into the Light (Haloumix) / Long Way Down (Haloumix)
I Am Warm / Oceanwide Symphony / Arrythmia / Delia (Inbody Mix) / Breathe / Ordinary
Simple

(MP3)