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 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (175 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,326 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #31 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

Co-produced by Grammy-nominated mixmaster Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck), "Talkie Walkie" features ten new cinematic pop songs that are direct, intimate and romantic, the band’s most rewarding collection to date. For the first time, the band handles all the vocal duties themselves to great effect, plus there are several trademark instrumentals such as "Alone In Kyoto" which also appeared in Sofia Coppola's recent hit movie "Lost In Translation". The Limited Edition CD comes with a bonus DVD featuring an inventively shot 35 minute film of Air on tour intercut with behind the scenes footage. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talkie Walkie (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 (South Jordan, Utah United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talkie Walkie (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 "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Talkie Walkie (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.