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Eager to prove their songwriting smarts and knowledge of traditionalist pop on their sophomore work, French band Air pulled back slightly from the milky synth pop of their 1998 debut, Moon Safari. 10,000 Hz Legend is a darker work, just as contemplative and unhurried as its predecessor, but part of a gradual move from drifting, almost pastoral melancholia to a downright post-modern helplessness in league with Radiohead. Air are still tremendously effective producers, and have actually expanded their palate with a surprising array of pop instrumentation (acoustic guitars, flutes, pianos, a harmonica, harps, and many strings) to file alongside the countless trilling synthesizers and machine sequencers. The two lead-off tracks, "Electronic Performers" and "How Does It Make You Feel," are breathtaking productions that exploit the same robot-weariness tendencies that made "Sexy Boy" (from Moon Safari) an alternative hit. Still, those detached retro-vocoder treatments sound so much more passé in 2001 than when the duo first tried them out in 1996. Jason Falkner and Beck, a pair of equally hardworking slacker-pop icons, appear (respectively) on the next two tracks, the tongue-in-cheek single "Radio #1" and an excellent morning-after jam named "The Vagabond." Again, the production is stellar, but these find Air stranded between art rock and pop, caught in the trap of trying to make great pop music yet never sounding particularly studied or concerned about it. Falkner pops up again on "Lucky and Unhappy" and "People in the City," a pair of album standouts that subvert any pop inclinations with a raft of bridges and breakdowns among the layers of production. "Wonder Milky Bitch" is another precisely studied track, a haze of lunar-desert synth pop directly evocative of country-pop classicist Lee Hazlewood, and "Radian" brings Air back to the instrumental textures of their early work. Fans and involved listeners are definitely rewarded with increased dividends after multiple listens, but even they may wish for an album that harked back to the simpler days of the Premiers Symptomes EP and Moon Safari.
© John Bush /TiVo
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Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Engineer - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, String Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Writer - JB DUNCKEL, Producer, String Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Conductor, String Arranger - Julien Doubey, Engineer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bass Guitar - Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Engineer - Brian Reitzell, Drums - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Arranger, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Roger Joseph Manning , Vocals - JB DUNCKEL, Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Conductor, Arranger - Julien Doubey, Engineer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France ℗ 2001 Parlophone / Warner Music France, a Warner Music Group Company
Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Additional Drums, Bass Guitar, Solo Vocals - Ken Andrews, Vocals - Jason Falkner, Vocals - Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Sound Engineer - Brian Reitzell, Drums - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Writer, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Writer - Roger Joseph Manning , Additional Keyboards, Vocals - JB DUNCKEL, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Arranger - Julien Doubey, Engineer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Beck Hansen, Vocals, Harmonica - Thomas, Hand Clap - Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Beck, Writer - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Sound Engineer - Brian Reitzell, Drums - Annabel, Hand Clap - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Arranger, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Writer, Hand Clap - JB DUNCKEL, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Arranger, Choir Conductor, Flute Conductor, Strings Conductor - Julien Doubey, Engineer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bass Guitar - Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Corky Hale, Harp - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editor, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Sound Engineer - Brian Reitzell, Drums - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Arranger, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Writer, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Writer - Roger Joseph Manning , Additional Keyboards - JB DUNCKEL, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Barbara Cohen, Voices - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Conductor, Arranger - Julien Doubey, Engineer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Ken Andrews, Vocals - Jason Falkner, Vocals - Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Lisa Papineau, Vocals - Brian Kehew, Sound Engineer - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Arranger, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Writer, Synth Bass, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Writer - JB DUNCKEL, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Arranger, Choir Conductor, Flute Conductor, Strings Conductor - Julien Doubey, Engineer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Engineer - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Arranger, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Writer - JB DUNCKEL, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Buffalo Daughter, Vocals - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Conductor, Arranger - Julien Doubey, Engineer - Sugar Yoshinaga, Writer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Ken Andrews, Vocals - Jason Falkner, Vocals - Nilesh Patel, Masterer, MasteringEngineer - Julia Sarr, Vocals - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Engineer - Brian Reitzell, Drums - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Arranger, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Writer - JB DUNCKEL, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Conductor, Arranger - Julien Doubey, Engineer - Olyza, Vocals
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Engineer - Brian Reitzell, Drums - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Arranger, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Writer - JB DUNCKEL, Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Conductor, Arranger - Julien Doubey, Engineer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Additional Drums, Bass Guitar - Beck Hansen, Vocals - Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Tony Hoffer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Engineer - Brian Reitzell, Drums - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Lead Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Producer, Lead Vocals, Writer - Roger Joseph Manning , Additional Keyboards - JB DUNCKEL, Keyboards, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Jean Croc, Whistle - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Conductor - Julien Doubey, Engineer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Nilesh Patel, MasteringEngineer - Tony Hoffer, Additional Producer, Editing Engineer, MixingEngineer - Bruce Keen, Editing Engineer - Brian Kehew, Engineer - Air, MainArtist - Nicolas Godin, Producer, Arranger, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Lead Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Jean-Benoit Dunckel, Producer, Arranger, Lead Vocals, Writer - Roger Joseph Manning , Additional Keyboards - JB DUNCKEL, Keyboards, Synthesizer, RecordingEngineer - Pascal Garnon, Drums Recording Engineer - Julien Marty, Engineer - Julien Delfaux, Assistant Mixing Engineer - Roger Neill, Conductor, Arranger - Julien Doubey, Engineer
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France Label Parlophone, ℗ 2001 Warner Music France
Album review
Eager to prove their songwriting smarts and knowledge of traditionalist pop on their sophomore work, French band Air pulled back slightly from the milky synth pop of their 1998 debut, Moon Safari. 10,000 Hz Legend is a darker work, just as contemplative and unhurried as its predecessor, but part of a gradual move from drifting, almost pastoral melancholia to a downright post-modern helplessness in league with Radiohead. Air are still tremendously effective producers, and have actually expanded their palate with a surprising array of pop instrumentation (acoustic guitars, flutes, pianos, a harmonica, harps, and many strings) to file alongside the countless trilling synthesizers and machine sequencers. The two lead-off tracks, "Electronic Performers" and "How Does It Make You Feel," are breathtaking productions that exploit the same robot-weariness tendencies that made "Sexy Boy" (from Moon Safari) an alternative hit. Still, those detached retro-vocoder treatments sound so much more passé in 2001 than when the duo first tried them out in 1996. Jason Falkner and Beck, a pair of equally hardworking slacker-pop icons, appear (respectively) on the next two tracks, the tongue-in-cheek single "Radio #1" and an excellent morning-after jam named "The Vagabond." Again, the production is stellar, but these find Air stranded between art rock and pop, caught in the trap of trying to make great pop music yet never sounding particularly studied or concerned about it. Falkner pops up again on "Lucky and Unhappy" and "People in the City," a pair of album standouts that subvert any pop inclinations with a raft of bridges and breakdowns among the layers of production. "Wonder Milky Bitch" is another precisely studied track, a haze of lunar-desert synth pop directly evocative of country-pop classicist Lee Hazlewood, and "Radian" brings Air back to the instrumental textures of their early work. Fans and involved listeners are definitely rewarded with increased dividends after multiple listens, but even they may wish for an album that harked back to the simpler days of the Premiers Symptomes EP and Moon Safari.
© John Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 01:00:42
- Main artists: Air
- Label: Parlophone (France)
- Genre: Electronic
© 2001 - Source, une division de Parlophone Music France ℗ 2001- Source, une division de Parlophone Music France
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