Air: Talkie Walkie (180g) Vinyl LP

There's just something about these French men. Air reinvent their production style here, while keeping true to their synth-rock roots with this, their fourth full-length album. The last couple albums were a bit of a letdown from their initial brilliance on Moon Safari, but the opening moment of Talkie Walkie, "Venus," wastes no time re-setting the bar. Simple vocals and synths reminiscent of early minimal techno let you slip into that “my life’s an art house film” feeling. Even moodier is "Universal Traveler" with soft guitar and lyrics about lost and found friends, it might be best suited for the earbuds. For those who can only take so much of their musky masculine vocals, Nicholas and Jean-Benoit invite some ladies into the vocal booth for a couple joints. Jessica Banks takes the lead on "Cherry Blossom Girl," an ode to the woman you never met. If you’re buying this on wax, you probably want at least one joint to play out and the loud drums and vocals by Lisa Papineau on "Surfing On A Rocket" is as close as you'll get. A few pleasant instrumentals are also included, the standout being Lost In Translation’s “Alone In Kyoto.” With Talkie Walkie, Air once again takes the simplest ingredients and turns them into a most beautiful ten-course meal. Where are the 3-dimensional emotions? Where are the catchy melodies? Where are the machines that can get you some booty? And most importantly where’s the love? Talkie Walkie has the answers.

• 180g black vinyl pressing
• original release year: 2003
• music label: Parlophone 2025

reviewed by jms 07/2015