Talkie Walkie

Air

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 17, 2004)
• Original Release Date: February 17, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B00013RC9I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,033 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Ambient Pop

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 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 (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

14 of 14 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

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.

37 of 43 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 (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.