An Evolving Breeze.
Back from vacationing and ready to get my blog on. I’m doing this as a suggestion, a TMM first. By the way if any of you have suggestions for blog topics or reviews please run them by me. Anyway, today I’ll be taking a look at the new album from French electronic duo AIR. This album is entitled LOVE 2 pretty simple and to the point as to be expected. I am pretty familiar with this group’s previous works and I am somewhat of a fan, I greatly enjoyed their work on the soundtrack for THE VIRGIN SUICIDES despite my negative opinions of Sophia Coppola’s films. I was drawn from the beginning by their clean jazzy, loungey sound that sounded like it was inspired by 1970’s lounge/elevator music or something. Either way it was fucking great. I will be listening to this as I write; I have not heard this album before so this is exciting. Oh and before you go searching the globe…no there is not an album named Love or Love 1. (Fingers crossed for a prequel?)
Track 1. Do The Joy: Wow that’s different. A very new-wave like and darker sound for this first track. But the trademark piano is still present. They are using some-kind of voice warping effect that sounds like a nasally alien. The use of guitar is a welcome addition. But that voice effect is very distracting. It does not juxtapose well with the soft “Doo Doo Doo’s” that overlap it. Overall a short and forgettable song, but an interesting introduction.
Track 2. Love: Well first of, way to go on the title. Like, the originality baffles me. Where do these guys dream up this amazing stuff? I like the sound of this one. Less aggressive more soft and sweet. The voice warping is much more subtle and effective in this track. There are some wind instruments (fake) and the piano sounds very loud and foreboding. There are rain-forest sound effects in the background and in the foreground one simple word is repeated over and over hitting different notes and becoming an instrument unto itself. That word? You guessed it. Love! chika chika chika chika Love! A very relaxing song. I like it but I don’t….LOVE! It.
Track 3. So Light Is Her Footfall: it says footfall, not football. Finally some lyrics. As usual the lyrics are dipped in a heavy French accent. This song is borderline indie rock; the guitar is very funky though. Which is oddly fitting. it’s slow and atmospheric but fails to grab my attention. I’d give this one another listen though, because I just found myself singing along on accident. I’ve noticed that the lyrics become so predictable (not necessarily bad) that you can pretty much sing along without ever hearing the song.
Track 4. Be A Bee: The title made me giggle right away. Its strange hearing them play an upbeat song, a little punky, a little indie and overall mainstream sounding. I like it. It’s catchy. It kind of reminds me of a pulpy spy movie from the 70’s. Incoherent lyrics work to its advantage. This one get’s my thumbs up. Nice beat. The ending changes gears a bit but I still enjoy it. The pacing of it. I couldn’t imagine myself falling asleep to this song, like the rest of the AIR catalog.
Track 5. Missing The Light of The Day: I was totally expecting to hear them start rapping when this song started up. Nice beat, very reminiscent of early electronic like Kraftwerk. They seem to be experimenting more which is always good. I like hearing they’re sound evolve. That piano is way to relaxing for such a nice little beat. The addition of female vocals adds a dreaminess to it, it’s like they are fighting themselves, they want to evolve but they can’t break their ambient lounge chains. At least they are forging ahead with confidence. Which I can smell all over this, you can tell they were proud of this effort.
Track 6. Tropical Disease: I love the start, I was waiting for some brass to be thrown in the mix, and it suits them great. Nice! Xylophone, piano, and a very nice beat, I really like this. My favorite by far. Reminds me of a video game almost like this should be playing in the back of some Japanese RPG. Either way bravo with this song. For some reason the title brings up some interesting imagery to accompany the song as well. As it goes on it reminds me of something that would accompany soft-core pornography and this is not a bad thing, they really rubbed me the right way with this one and hit all my buttons. I don’t know if they wanted to keep the lyrics simple or they just poorly translate. “Woman make me feel warm inside.”
Track 7. Heaven’s Light: I like the piano/xylophone combo. A very pretty song. Although I think they might be better if the singer was…for lack of any other way of putting it…less…French. Or maybe if he stopped the whispery style he enjoys so much and tried a different approach, it just seems to be dragging things down, holding up the show. Overall this song didn’t appeal to me.
Track 8. Night Hunter: Quite a funky opening. Funky funky bass. I like where this is heading. I hope it picks up though because I’m getting sleepy. I don’t think wind instruments are a sign that this song will intensify. It is very well done though, I find myself swaying to its funky rhythm. Every time I think this song is going to explode into a break down it only gets more tame and neutral. Not their best effort but it was fun.
Track 9. Sing Sang Sung: This song feels like a song. That’s for sure, there are lyrics that span more than one verse and it follows the music appropriately. It’s only now that I realize the extremity of the vocalists lisp. The chorus comes out sounding like Thing Thang Thung. I like this song though; it has a very happy atmosphere. I keep picturing a happy family having a picnic in a bright green park.
Track 10. Eat My Beat: Silly title, this better live up to its name. Captures my attention right from the beginning. A sound similar to Tropical Disease. I like it. Brings up a lot of imagery. Makes me think of a secret agent in sunglasses driving a sports car down a long winding road. I totally ate their beat, and came back for seconds.
Track 11. You Can Tell It To Everybody: Dreamy opening that leads into a nice beat. I’m loving the sound of this. Why does this feel like a goodbye song? It’s got this upbeat and tragic mood like something pivotal but difficult happened. The synth metronomes in a manner almost similar to reggae. I could have done without vocals but they manage not to ruin it. I like this song.
Track 12. African Velvet: This is a nice song but it feels like it was built with leftover pieces and ideas. If it played in the background at my house I would welcome it but not necessarily acknowledge it. I love when they use brass; I hope they continue to do that in future efforts.
Well to sum up, if your already a fan of AIR than this album will expand on the sound you’ve grown to love but will feel somewhat distant from it as well. And if you’re interested in hearing them for the first time this isn’t the album I would start with. It’s a strong album in there discography but not the strongest, I feel them moving toward something great and I hope they get there. Well that’s my review.
Kisses,
Mandragon.
