Talkie Walkie

After dazzling discriminating ears with their sensational debut album, ‘Moon Safari’, in 1998, quirky French electronic outfit Air went all experimental on us with 2001’s ‘10,000 Hz Legend’. Though an interesting listen and with more than a few high points, somehow it came across as robotic and stiff compared to the fluid, uplifting ambient electronica of their debut, which featured such mesmerising tracks as ‘Kelly Watch the Stars’, music so trippy as to make you feel light as… air.

Their third album, ‘Talkie Walkie’, sees a welcome return to form for the duo, who perhaps learnt not to stray too far from the path that led them to become such darlings of the Wallpaper-reading, art-movie-imbibing, post-clubbing set.

Air was formed by Parisians Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel in 1995. Apart from the two already cited albums, they also “did” the soundtrack to the Sofia Coppola film ‘The Virgin Suicides’ in 2000, once again collaborating with the director on her latest film ‘Lost in Translation’, with their haunting contribution, ‘Alone in Kyoto’, featuring on ‘Talkie Walkie’.

Though with influences that range from Kraut-rockers Kraftwerk to disco and Burt Bacharach, on ‘Talkie Walkie’ Air have created what sounds more like electronica on strong tranquilisers. Soothing stuff it certainly is, though its dreamy, ethereal quality is deeply compelling… listen to it with the lights out late at night, or just as you wake up to maximise its gorgeous, spatial ambience.

It’s cool as the feel of fresh linen beneath your cheek as you slip into bed, and at times intensely moody (like opening track ‘Venus’, a love song that’s indolent rather than ecstatic), but there’s an edgy humour to it that keeps the tone upbeat. Second track ‘Cherry Blossom Girl’ introduces the lovely hypnotic accoustic sound that dominates the album, but this particular song is tinged with sadness — which its rather dark video reinforces. I can now not listen to the track without reflecting on grainy images of a reluctant teenage porn “star” shivering against the cold as she wanders the dark, inhospitable city. Not quite what you would imagine with a title like that.

It’s not all so reflective, though. Among slow, reverie-inspiring tracks like ‘Run’ and ‘Another Day’ are the quirkier and significantly more uptempo ‘Surfing on a Rocket’ and ‘Alpha Beta Gaga’. And while ‘Talkie Walkie’ could well make for perfect background music, it’s never boring. At the same time, though, it can hardly be described as deep and meaningful stuff — it’s pretty shallow, but in a most alluring way. Put it on and let its conscious lightness and prettiness enfold you. But beware if you have an addictive personality, like all tranquilisers, this album’s heady narcotic quality is not to be taken for granted.