AIR
10,000 Hertz Legend (Astralwerks)
Reviewed by Rusty Pipes

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Parisians Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Nicolas Godin are showing off new sounds on their second album as Air. Their first album, Moon Safari, achieved a good deal of note, and it got them work on the soundtrack to The Virgin Suicides, but 10000 Hertz Legend is more electronic than their earlier work. Fine with me!

This isn't dance music. 10Khz is more pop oriented, reminiscent of old 10CC stuff like "I'm Not In Love," especially on "How Does that Make You Feel," which is "sung" by a hoarse computer voice and has a humorous twist at the end. Another favorite is "The Vagabond" which features guest vocals by Beck Hansen. "The Vagabond" shows they're not afraid to have the occasional acoustic guitar or harmonica mixed in, but other tracks have flute or even harp accents in them. Beck Hansen is also on "Don't be Light," but less prominently. Sometimes the vocals have no words like in a beautiful long piece, "Radian;" some are downright sexy like "Wonder Milky Bitch" or "Sexy Born Poison." It all adds up to great makeout music.

Air is easily the equal of other artsy-electronimos like Underworld and Delerium. There's good sedate singing and a great feel for melody. It's subtle, and of course it's all beautifully recorded. Easily one of the best electronic pop albums this year.

© 2001 - Rusty Pipes