AIR

Pocket Symphony

Astralwerks

By Johan Froom

Fresh off their production gig with Charlotte Gainsbourg, the French duo Air continue their tradition of nouveau-chic melancholia with their latest release “Pocket Symphony.” Music to think to, music to make love to, Nicholas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel dust the sonic canvas with soft arpeggiated pianos, bleepy percussion, strummy guitars, and whispering vocals complete with French accents, with the exception of guest vocalists Neil Hannon and Jarvis Cocker, the latter appearing alongside Ms. Gainsbourg in the slow moving creepiness of “The Duelist.” Japanese instruments sparingly grace the album, though the two stay close to the traditional sound they introduced ten years ago.

Though “Pocket Symphony” seems to be a little more “sleepy” than much of their previous work, the pop sensibilities are still evident as is their secret brand loud minimalism. From the dark melodies of Napalm Love to the stony percussive instrumental of Space Maker, Air have delivered another body of work sure to soundtrack a rainy dorm room day or maybe the sun peering through a hazy sky. Oui oui, a decade after the Moogified beauty of their debut Moon Safari, Air remain the purveyors of sun to rain symphonies.

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