Pocket Symphony [Enhanced]

Air | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B000KGGEUE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,904 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #43 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Ambient Pop

Track Listings

1. Space Maker

2. Once Upon A Time

3. Hell Of A Party

4. Napalm Love

5. Mayfair Song

6. Left Bank

7. Photograph

8. Mer du Japon

9. Lost Message

10. Somewhere Between Waking And Sleeping

11. Redhead Girl

12. Night Sight

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Some bands like to thwart expectations, and Air is one of them. "Spacemaker," the opening of Pocket Symphony, sounds like a cousin to their instrumental retro-lounge "La Femme D'Argent" from 1998's Moon Safari, right down to the electric bass break in the middle. But this isn't a return to their breakthrough sound. "Spacemaker" really does pave the way for an almost classically somnolent outing from the French duo. Air once proclaimed, "In any classical song you can take five seconds of it and make a loop and you make a great pop song with it." I think they took that to heart on an album that echoes Debussy, Bach, and Reich, but which also contains a Beatlesque eclecticism redolent of Revolver. But instead of the Beatles' Indian flourishes, Air look to Japan, using a plucked koto on a couple of tracks, but also a zen garden sense of sonic placement. Although Jarvis Cocker from Pulp and Neil Hannon of Divine Comedy sing on a couple of tunes--adding some emotional gravitas--Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel do most of the vocalizing in their preternatural Munchkins-on-Quaaludes lisp. Air are known for their chilled melancholy, but the mood of Pocket Symphony is introspectively somber. Only "Mer du Japon" rises to a groove, while the rest recline in a luxurious torpor. That mood works especially well on instrumentals like the minimalist cycles of "Night Sight" and the Enoesque "Lost Message," with its circular piano line and ice-sheathed string synthesizers. Pocket Symphony won't yield any pop hits, but it could be the soundtrack to endless rainy afternoons. --John Diliberto

Product Description

From the creators of the classic albums "Moon Safari" and "Talkie Walkie", Air deliver a career masterpiece, their most seductive and accomplished work to date.

Features guest vocals by Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy).

Includes the single "Once Upon A Time".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of 2007: Grows on you, March 22, 2007

By 

Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Pocket Symphony (Audio CD)

I am happy with "Pocket Symphony". With their 2007 comeback album, the French duo has managed to combine their sound from "Talkie Walkie" with their earlier work, yielding an album that has a crisp electronic sound hovering lush ambient soundscapes in the best Air style ever.

Now, I must admit the first listen to it didn't quite sink in, and there are still (after numerous listens) tracks that I don't enjoy too much ("One Hell of a Party" and "Napalm Love" being the top two). But the rest of the album has so many GREAT moments that it is bound to offer listeners music for the ages. The opening and closing tracks are two such cases, which are among the best music to come out in 2007.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sit back and enjoy... (not for anyone in a hurry), June 4, 2007

By 

Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pocket Symphony (Audio CD)

Ever since Air's instant-classic debut album, 1998's "Moon Safari", the French duo has sought to try and follow up to and meet that high standard. Their output since then has divided the fan base. I, for one, absolutely love the often-maligned 2001's "10,000 Hz Legend" album, but was disappointed with 2004's "Talkie Walkie" album. Now comes the new album.

"Pocket Symphony" (12 tracks, 48 min.) is as atmospheric as Air will get while not making a movie soundtrack. The instrumental opener "Space Maker" sets the stage. First single (in the UK--can you imagine Air getting a single released in the US?) "Once Upon a Time" is a beautiful dreamscape. Jarvis Cocker is the vocalist on "One Hell of a Party", which reminds me almost of cabaret-style music. Another instrumental "Mayfair Song" flowes into "Left Bank", bringing the duo back home. "Mer du Japon" ironically enough does not feature some of the Japanese sounds found on several other tracks here (such as the beautiful "Somewhere between Waking and Sleeping" and "Redhead Girl"), and in fact I find this song to be somehwat out of whack with the rest of the album. The instrumental closer "Night Shift" is the perfect ending to this album.

Is this album as good as "Moon Safari"? No, but Air may never be that good again, who knows. That said, "Pocket Symphony" is a fine album, which I have been enjoying ever since its release a few months ago. I happen to catch Air at Coachella in late April, and due to technical difficulties they only put on a brief set, which was very disappointing. I'd love to see them again in concert in better circumstances.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, April 11, 2007

By 

Avernus "Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'intrante" (Weatherford, TX, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pocket Symphony (Audio CD)

Air have definately taken a new direction with their latest release, 'Pocket Symphonies'. Abandoning the more 'lounge/pop' feel for a more lush and vibrant form of ambient/pop, 'Pocket Symphonies' is a soothing and totally captivating piece of work.

It does take a few listens to fully appreciate this one.. First you have to get use to the new vibe, then you have to listen to the album in its entirety to understand its low-key focus. This album is very minimalistic, focusing heavily on atmosphere and less on the pop tunes that formulated older albums. Most ambient albums tend to wander off into obscure territory, but Air keep everything relatively short and too the point; though nothing is too short, or too direct. There is just enough variety to keep you captivated, and enough soothing melody to keep your eyes closed and your brain completely tranquilized.

This is an absolutely stellar album to meditate, read, do homework, drive or just relax to. 'Pocket Symphonies' is definately one of the top albums to be released in '07 so far. Some are bound to lack appreciation of this album though, because it is not immediately accessable, and a bit more challanging than previous Air efforts. Reguardless, a stellar album in my book.