Disco de Air: “10,000 Hz Legend”

damn ... this album is fantastic - avant-garde weird and classically beautiful at the same time - they obviously don't care about maintaining the MOR audience they earned with the hit "all i need"; and "radio #1", the most commercial song on this album (i guess), ain't gonna set any radio playlists on fire (at least not in the u.s.), but what a rewarding piece o' work ... id've loved to see beth hirsch guest on a track or two like she did on 'moon safari', but beck does a great job on "the vagabond" and "don't be light", 2 of my personal faves ... "electronic performers" and "how does it make you feel?" are psychedelic masterpieces, and "radian" is as gorgeous as anything bach or beethoven ever did ... great art is made at the extremes, and this record IS extreme : fans of 'moon safari' may be put off on 1st listen - but give this a chance - it's truly wonderful and, coupled with great recent music from mirwais, phoenix, and daft punk, it can only make ya wonder what they're puttin in the water over there in france...

If you are expecting "Safari Moon Pt. 2", you will be dissapointed. Air took a more adventuourous, darker, ambient, serious, experimental, and ultimtately brilliant journey into electronic music. The songs here range from sounding like Aphex Twin (without the weird off-putting effects or heavy drums) to Thievery Corp. Air still has a beautiful sense of melody and as usual the tunes themselves are beautifully and creatively put together (even a throwaway Air song is a well-crafted one). Overall, all us true hardcore Air fans love this album. Those who only loved MS may not like it, but that's their loss I say,

I bought this album the same day as I bought Radiohead "amnesiac". Originally I was reluctant to buy this album due to poor reiews in Rolling Stone, but I went ahead and splurged anyway. When I listened to the albums I was surprised to let down by radiohead and so uplifted by Air. In a way 10,000 Hz is Air's "Kid A", a very experimental fare that adds a whole new demension to the band.

It is "10,000 Hz" that solidifies Air as one of my favorite bands ever. Furthermore, it is this album not "Moon safari" that lets the listener see the deeper personal side of Air. With songs of robo-sex, love, America, and radios, "10,000 Hz" is a darkly ironic comic album that offers the listener a ride down the autobahn of love. It's like the purverse cousin of Daft Punk's excellent "Discovery" which has also been criticized but both albums need to be listened to with a sense of humor in order to have a rewarding listen. "moon safari" was pure nostalgia "10,000" is a true work of art.

When I first bought this album and listened through a lukewarm review seemed likely. After digesting the significant stylistic departure they took on this release I think, though incomparable to Moon Safari, its just as strong a release overall. There are several main differences between this and Air's previous work. First, the songs are here are consistenly lengthy and meditative with multiple passages. Second, Air seems to have embraced the intricate drum programming techniques of modern electronic listening music (Autechre, Aphex Twin) wholeheartedly. Though the processed vocals are still here, they are earthier and darker than before. The melodies bear a strong resemblance to the ones heard on the Virgin Suicides soundtrack but are more fleshed out. Overall, 10,000 hz Legend is a pretty dark and melancholy sounding release.

The jump from Moon Safari to 10,000 hz Legend actually reminds me of the differrence between Steely Dan's first two albums, "Can't Buy A Thrill" and "Countdown To Ecstasy." While Moon Safari might me a more impressive effort, 10,000 hz Legend certainly shows significant progress and is deeper, more mature effort. Be patient with this release, there's a lot to digest. After awhile the album really comes together as something special.

This is undoubtedly Air's best album to date, veering away from the disposable pop of `Moon Safari' and back toward the interesting arrangements and textures of their debut `Premieres Symptomes'. Following their soundtrack to the film `The Virgin Suicides', which was good but consisted largely of repeated variations of the same few musical themes, this is a more rounded and satisfying effort.

A series of lush sonic landscapes with some great vocal harmonies, it mixes pop, electronica and progressive influences to wonderful effect. Pink Floyd is an obvious influence, particularly the clean, spacious production and harmonies of Floyd's `Dark Side of the Moon' period.

The best track is `Radian', a beautiful instrumental piece with an ominous, extended intro and flutes, reminiscent of the work of Henry Mancini and Lalo Schifrin. `Sex Born Poison', `Don't be Light' and closing track `Caramel Prisoner' have an epic sweep. `How Does It Make You Feel?', which showcases the Floyd-type harmonies and is a sequel of sorts to `Playground Love' from the `Virgin Suicides' soundtrack, is a lovely song.

It's not a perfect album. Tracks like `Lucky and Unhappy' and `People in the City' are a bit repetitive. And `Vagabond', which has Beck guesting on vocals, doesn't do it for me. But overall, this is a fine album.