halovox was prominently mentioned in The Aquarian on 01.12.05 as part of an article on the New York Synthpop Festival. Click here to read the article.
halovox was mentioned in The New York Daily News on 01.13.05 as part of an article on the New York Synthpop Festival. Click here to read the article.
2004 halovox
Review from Amazon.com
"Devastatingly hypnotic electronica. Thanks to Jayson Levine's
thorough and concise review, plus added background to this wonderful cd
by halovox. I was actually working on my job when in transit I found myself
furiously scanning the radio for something decent to hear, when I came
across "Deception" towards the last minute being played. It
was loud, awesome, sounded like dance house Depeche Mode, and it had a
beat. The radio announcer was good enough to elaborate on the group's
name and genre of electronica. Although by the time I had gotten home,
I had forgotten the name and could only think of the 80s group Blackbox.
So I searched the web for electronica groups with recent hits, and came
across halovox. No other group name came close, so after searching some
more, I came to Amazon and found this cd. It had "Deception",
ordered it, got it within two weeks, and glad to say it fits high on the
scale of any electronic wizardry scale of any of my music catalog finds
since disco, and new wave eras.
This group could easily pass as Depeche Mode, and although the cd rocks, it also varies. Some songs are so melodic and melancholy (like "Silent Whispers (Forever Mix)", it defies categorization. Just think of Vangelis meets Depeche Mode! (5 stars)" - Robert
Excerpts from review published in Industrial Nation #21
"halovox, hailing from the NYC area, delivers their first 14 track
full-length of infectious, dancefloor friendly synthpop songs highlighted
by singer Frank Freda's earnest singing and lyrics, some of which have
already found their way onto area DJ playlists. Check out their powerful
and danceable cover version of 'Fly On The Windscreen'. For fans of: Depeche
Mode, Melotron, De/Vision. Best tracks: 'Make Me Yours', 'Deception'.
Rating - Essential." - Cage23|Industrial
Nation
Excerpts from review on The Muse's Muse
"The disc is thoroughly enjoyable, even though I can't really
perceive of anything groundbreaking here. I genuinely felt how confidently
& convincingly these tunes come to life with Frank's guidance. The
voice is strong & true and the grooves will get you moving. That's
what it's all about."
"As well, they do change the pace a couple times, and even the rest of the tunes each have a great sense of identity behind the beat. The 14 songs in fact play like they would at the dance club, speeding up and slowing down at regular intervals. Right in the middle, they handle the one cover on the disc - that of Depeche Mode's 'Fly On The Windscreen' - and although it's almost identical to the original, halovox comes out slightly ahead with a punchier version."
"Throughout, Frank's voice is branding these songs, just as groups
like Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys have done in the past. We haven't
had a group like them for a while. A little more musical experimentation
and halovox could creep into the void." - Steve
Allat|The Muse's Muse
Excerpts from review on Escape From Noise
"The biggest unifying factor is Frank's voice, an impressively
resonant baritone that's at its best when singing balls-out. Frank Freda
is easily in the upper echelon of current electropop singers."
"'Deception' is an early high point, a compelling dance number with one of the better melodic hooks in attendance. 'Worthy' is one of the bigger surprises, a downtempo ballad featuring Frank's voice at its most mellow. A bigger surprise is that the lyrics work really really well. In the past a song like this would find itself mated to painfully trite lyrics, but this song deftly dodges that trap. 'Retrospect' is another winner, a mid-tempo grinder capping an excellent trifecta of tracks."
"The second half of the album continues a string of solid songs - the simmering 'Waiting, Watching, Wanting' and nice dance tracks in 'Just Like Me' and 'Insecurity'."
"Wrapping up the album are another pair of very strong songs, 'Fresh Out' and 'Disintegration'."
"halovox is a good solo effort for Frank. It's clear that he's progressed musically since his association with Brand New Idol, especially in the lyric department, and BNI fans will be immediately pleased with it."
Songwriting skills: 6.5 (always solid, occasionally addictive)
Recording quality: 8.0 (excellent with just some patchy stridency)
Freshness: 6.0 (ahead of the curve in the current electropop batch)
Vocals: 9.0 (Frank's one of the best)
Lyrics: 6.5 (greatly improved over past efforts)
X-Factor: 5.0 (solid but not genre-redefinining)
Overall score 6.83 - David
Vesel|Escape From Noise
Review from CD Baby
"A promising synth CD for many moods. halovox brings to its scene
a well-put-together mix of everything from danceable, upbeat songs to
the more melancholic, brooding ballads. halovox is the brainchild of Frank
J. Freda, who has seen his development through various associations with
different acts, i.e. Stripped, Deep Freeze, and Brand New Idol. With each
endeavor, Frank's creativity with and command over the language that is
music, expressed through electronica, has clearly improved to a point
where, now, his solo release is sure to delight virtually anyone who has
had the privilege of listening to his evolution. I have long awaited a
solo CD from Frank, as earlier efforts involved more cover work and persuasion
from people who otherwise detracted from Frank's path of influence. halovox's
debut CD will not disappoint those who long for the flavor of the memorable
1980's, when electronica was making its way in its own circles. His revisiting
his 80's influences is truly a tribute to those who made synthpop just
what it is today to so many people. (Five stars)" - Jayson
Levine
Review from CD Baby
"Pulsating beats and tremendous lead vocal. A winning mix that
will keep you stuck with this only cd for hours and hours. I sincerely
hope there will be more to come from such a promising act. Influences
are obvioulsy mainly coming from depeche mode, camouflage, de/vision and
sometimes like pet shop boys and erasure especially in slow songs with
heavier synth sounds. (Five stars)" - fab_thefab
Review from CD Baby
"Haunting vocals with beautiful melodies. Thanks to FlashbackAlternatives.com
for turning me onto this disc! This is a must have for any fan of synth
pop in the style of Depeche Mode, Xymox, Lords of the New Church, etc.
You can't go wrong on this one! (Four stars)" - Kevin
Excerpts from review on Hard Wired
"halovox allows Freda to show off the full range of his substantial
songwriting skills & it's this, along with the edgier sound that grace
a number of the 14 tracks to be found here & a nicely solid, beefy
production, that keeps interest high throughout the 70 minute duration."
"This is no mean feat for an essentially commercial synthpop artist although Freda helps his cause immensely by adopting an edgier, slightly gutsier sound which makes its mark immediately on the opening double header of 'Make Me Yours' & 'Deception' (the latter track further benefitting from some memorable synthleads) as well as 'Retrospect' & the rhythmically busy 'Save Yourself', all of which make for a most impressive first half although, for me, it's when this harder side is given free reign, as on 'Foolish Slave', that brings out the best in his music."
"Freda is a most talented artist & halovox is a name we're all going to be hearing a lot from on the future (8/10 - Very good)" - Carl Jenkinson|Hard Wired
Excerpts from review on Chain D.L.K.
"The singing is strong and brings out the emotional tense and
the production is very good."
"halovox is to lookout for and will soon breakout with new fans all over the world (4.5 out of 5 stars)" - Donovan Tate|Chain D.L.K.
Excerpts from review on Synthpop.ru (translated from Russian)
"This album starts off with a marvelous feel of freedom, unchained
ideas and soaring uniqueness."
"Slick quality of the intentions resulted in the diligent songs of diverse technologies, moods and rhythms. Two or three (without particular titles) of the songs could be definitely battling the best compositions of, say, Cause & Effect or Neuropa, and found their personal place under the synthpop sun." - Synthez Observer|Synthpop.ru
Excerpts from review on WMUC
"Another Depeche Mode-like electropop act to add to your dancefloor
repertoire. The songs are erotic, and well produced with catchy synth-backup
vocals and oh-so-danceable electro-disco-beat drum machine sequences.
The melodic vocals are well delivered and full of the poetic campy romance
one expects from the genre. An admirable album recommended for those that
just can't get enough of the likes of Fictional, Iris, or Neuropa. Good
songs: 1,4,7,11,14" - Alex,
RPM Director/WMUC University of Maryland
Excerpts from review on ReGen Magazine
"halovox offers some very decent minimalist synthpop filtered
through a few retro-industrial affectations. The songs are reminiscent
of the '80s, while having a few of the modern touches that many of the
European synthpop acts employ."
"'Make Me Yours' stands up well against most of the EBM/futurepop dance floor fodder that comes down the pike these days. It could easily win over the Seabound and Beborn Beton fans, as well as being very pleasing to the old school Depeche Mode fetishists. 'Just Like Me' follows in the same vein. 'Foolish Slave' combines more hard samples and sounds to bring a more energetic and less pop edge to the album, giving it some variety."
"The tracks are all very good..." - ReGen
Magazine
Excerpts from review on TV TranZmission
"Opening track 'Make Me Yours' has a great shot at dance floor
play. A good bass line, laid with a great synth structure. The lyrics
fit right into the sound perfectly, not aggressive but full of aggressive
passion."
"Track two 'Deception' caught my attention with the lyrics, again a good bass line and lots of passion in the sound structure. It's the lyrics on this track that makes the song."
"'Save Yourself' I think is my favorite the lyrics are GREAT, telling whomever where to get off. The sound is very filling not a driving bass line but soundscapes, loops keep your ears interested."
"Frank has major talent and his writing is very strong and passionate.
The production, mastering and overall cd is excellent..." - TV
TranZmission
Excerpts from review on Gothic Paradise
"Fans looking for some new solid synthpop will enjoy this album.
Those that have really enjoyed Depeche Mode and similar bands should get
a hold of the work by this artist."
"Frank's smooth vocals mix well with the music, moving along well with the dance-friendly music..."
"'Awkward Silence' really brings the dreamy, dark and sullen
elements as it gradually grows and lilts along with the soft deep vocals
layered over the wistful electronics."
"This is a great debut album and provides a nice foundation for halovox to build upon. It flows well and has a good variety while staying true to the genre and influences."
"...a stellar album moving through dance-friendly tracks and
breaking for the dreamy ballads in between. (4 out of 5)" - Jacob
Bogedahl/Gothic Paradise
Excerpts from review on Connexion Bizarre
"The debut album of halovox is a strong showing in the world of
generic synthpop."
"halovox is worth checking out simply because it is good music."
"All in all, halovox delivers. (6 out of 10)" - Crippled.Hope|Connexion Bizarre
Excerpts from review on Synthpop.NET
"I am very impressed with this album. I really love the new mix
of 'Silent Whispers' that closes the album. But, I've loved that song
from the first time I heard it, and I've yet to hear a version I don't
like."
"Other songs I found particularly outstanding were 'Worthy', the very DM-esque 'Foolish Slave', 'Waiting, Watching, Wanting', 'Just Like Me', and the awesome ballad 'Awkward Silence'. The cover of 'Fly On The Windscreen' is a unusual choice as to a DM track to cover, but it's pulled off really well."
"A collection of very impressive songs... (4.5 Stars out of 5)" - Jason Baker|Synthpop.NET
Excerpts from review on Grave Concerns
"...draws
from a range of influences to form a solid club-friendly synthpop framework
for the album's blend of catchy hooks and moody ambience."
"Top club-friendly cuts include 'Make Me Yours', 'Retrospect', and 'Just Like Me'; all three are extremely infectious slices of classic synthpop."
"Overall, halovox's self-titled debut is a well-written and well-produced album that walks the line between retro and modern for an offering that's likely to please a wide range of synthpop fans."- Joshua Heinrich|Grave Concerns Read the full review by clicking here.
2004 halovox promo CD
"New Jersey new wave group halovox combines modern electronic textures with a blackish blend of industrial and dark wave that goes back to the roots of the '80s U.S./U.K. sound. Depeche Mode-like electronic rhythms are mixed over melancholic vibes of solitude." - Download.com Music Editors
"The sound quality is excellent, and Frank's vocals are just as perfect as always. All four songs are really excellent, but 'Retrospect' is my favorite so far.. but that changes every time I listen to the disc.. This is a very promising set of songs, and I think the synthpop world is in for a very special treat when halovox's debut album is released in June! (4.5 Stars out of 5)" - Jason Baker|Synthpop.NET
"halovox layers catchy beats and electro-spectacular patterns which seem to meld right into Frank’s smooth voice. 'Retrospect' & 'Deception' have become instant dance floor favorites. While 'Disintegration' and 'Fresh Out' seductively grab hold of your heart and tug you into the magical world of synthpop ballads. (5 Top Hats - highest rating)" - Rev. Jayme|Culture Asylum Magazine
