Talkie Walkie

Air | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 17, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B00013RC9I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (177 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,254 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #18 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Ambient Pop

Track Listings

1. Venus

2. Cherry Blossom Girl

3. Run

4. Universal Traveler

5. Mike Mills

6. Surfin' On A Rocket

7. Another Day

8. Alpha Beta Gaga

9. Biological

10. Alone In Kyoto

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Talkie Walkie comes five years after their landmark Moon Safari and Parisian mood-enhancers Air are back doing what they do best. Famously shy of ever repeating themselves, JB Dunckel and Nicolas Godin have filled in the years with the poorly received follow-up, 10,000hz Legend (even they think it strange), and an eerily effective soundtrack to Sofia Coppola's Virgin Suicides. Nice enough in their own niche way, but a far cry from what people actually wanted.

Happily, Talkie Walkie reunites us with the Air that we love: two hopelessly indulgent romantics with an ear in the past and an eye on the future. It's meltingly good stuff--a collection of cool, cosmic pop songs that dispense with notions of time and space, wallowing instead on a cloud of poignant psychedelia. With vocal duties this time taken by the boys themselves, and gorgeously fragile strings courtesy of Serge Gainsbourg collaborator, Michel Colombier, they get off to a good start. Perhaps the introduction of an outside producer, in this case Radiohead's Nigel Godrich, has forced such beautifully measured focus? Whatever, touchy-feely epics such as the heavenly "Cherry Blossom Girl" sit well next to electronic masterpieces such as "Ran," whose enveloping tracked vocals recall the 10cc classic "I'm Not in Love." --Paul Tierney

Product Description

CD

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Journey into the Sublime. August 19, 2004

By The Groove

Format:Audio CD

Once in a while, you'll come across a certain special album, and the one word that best describes it is "pretty." That's certainly an appropriate adjective for Air's "Talkie Walkie," which has some breathtakingly elegant moments. The French duo creates dreamy landscapes of mellow pop with acoustic and electronic touches. "Cherry Blossom Girl" soars kite-high with a catchy chorus and strong melody, while the dark and mysterious "Run" has interesting horror-show synths and hypnotic spoken vocals. The latter song could very well be my favorite on the album. "Mike Mills" and "Surfing on a Rocket" are just as good and noteworthy. To peg "Talkie Walkie" as mere chillout fare would do both this album and Air injustice. It's strong enough to be considered one of the best albums I've heard this year.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Oooooo La, la.... September 16, 2006

By Moosic Fever

Format:Audio CD

I can't help it, I LOVE Air. I know there is a giant movement out there and the majority of Air lovers prefer Moon Safari, but I disagree. I think Talkie Walkie is far more refined. It's smoother, and it hits your touchy feely places. It's also more consistent throughout than Moon Safari and has much better flow. I think I can get around the cheesy lyrics by brushing it off as Frenchies with a language barrier thing. The music speaks for itself and I've never played a song more times than Universal Traveler. This album is a MUST have for anyone.

38 of 44 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Talkie the Walkie April 4, 2004

By E. A Solinas HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

French duo Air returns to top form with the excellent "Talkie Walkie," a charming collection of cool, soft electropop. Air fans won't be disappointed by the combination of the strong points of past releases. It sounds fresh and new, but not TOO new. Air stays connected to what it's done in the past.

"Talkie Walkie" is a solid collection of pop (the haunting "Run" and beautiful "Cherry Blossom Girl"), quiet psychedelica (catchy, futuristic-sounding "Surfing on a Rocket") and beautiful instrumentals (the acoustic-based "Mike Mills"). It's cool and quietly sweeps across your senses, like sitting on the beach and letting the waves run over your feet.

Don't expect the second chapter of "Moon Safari." The latest Air release has a more experimental sound, as if they're trying to make everything balance out. And their attempt is pretty much successful. The dreamy, slightly vulnerable songwriting blends perfectly with a mix of acoustic and electronic music.

At times, "Talkie Walkie" sags slightly with a riff that doesn't belong or a song that could have been shorter. Most of the time, though, it boasts some pretty impressive instruments -- piano, strings, electric drums, bells and smooth soundscapes. Lyrics are simple, especially in the sweet love song "Venus" ("If you walk in the sun/I will be your shadow").

Smooth, cool and otherworldly, "Talkie Walkie" is a beautifully-made release by a talented band. This elegant album is a must-have for music fans.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Faith In The Greatness Of Things November 18, 2006

By Mark Eremite VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

I had never heard of Air when I bought this album. I have no desire to compare it to Moon Safari (which I now also own), so Air-fans seeking a grade on the basis of that comparison should look elsewhere. Let's judge the album on the basis of its own merits, shall we?

That having been said, this album is amazing. Simply amazing.

It's not just the songs, which seem to be woven out of dream-silk with a creamy, bittersweet sensuality. I heard a friend describe the tunes as "cheesy;" maybe some of the themes could be described as cheesy (undying love, finding joy in spite of pain), but that makes them no less valid. Besides, what's certainly NOT cheesy is the exquisite and heart-breaking craftsmanship. I get goosebumps every time I hear this album because Air somehow manages to use a sort of gorgeous and liquid melancholy to craft songs that inspire hope, joy, peace, and faith in the greatness of things. In spite of the dark (rather sexy) shadow that these melodies cast, the songs themselves loom glittering and unswerving.

In addition to having a collection of uniformly outstanding songs, this record has also arranged the songs in an order that encourages an uninterrupted listen from beginning to end. The tender, sad-sweet love of Venus is picked up by Cherry Blossom Girl and taken to higher and brighter places. The mood dips and swerves and slides past creepily gorgeous corners in Run, across soothing sunset landscapes in Universal Traveler, through the stratosphere in Mike Mills, and into a cool and twinkling world of stars in Surfing On A Rocket. Another Day, Alpha Beta Gaga, Biological ... they're all skin-rippling fun, physically seductive, emotionally charged, and achingly beautiful....

It's a little short (especially since, with songs this good, you naturally crave more), but I don't think anyone with their sense of wonder still intact will find this record anything short of amazing. Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing. July 3, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

First off. I'm listening to this CD right now on my computer. So the poster below isn't entirely correct...

I first heard Air on the Lost in Translation soundtrack. Alone In kyoto was such an amazing song that I ordered this CD and Moon Safari, and I'm definately not dissapointed.

Standout tracks:

Venus, Cherry Blossom Girl, run, Another Day, Alpha Beta Gaga and Alone in Kyoto.

That's 6 excellent songs, a true rarity when buying a CD these days. I can't tell you the number of times I've bought a CD and there were only 1-2 listenable songs. So sad.

As far as comparisons to other artists today, I've heard them contrasted with zero7, but I think they are much more original and better songwriters by far. Hell their lirics are pretty basic and non sensicial, it's the complex melodies that distinguish Air above their apparently tone deaf competition.

I hope they keep putting out CDs.