The Air of Surrealism

wondered what the hipster older brother of Easy Listening would sound like? The smooth music of Air would satiate that curiosity. It is what elevator music wishes and aspires to emulate, but never even comes close to. This French duo has been creating dreamy, surreal albums of ambient beauty for nearly ten years, and they have bestowed yet another masterpiece upon us.Talkie Walkie is better than its commonplace title. The album is lovely, for lack of a better word. It’s slightly rockin’ in some places, like “Surfing on a Rocket,” almost classical in others, as in the circus-like “Mike Mills.” It’s quite reminiscent of other soundscape work by musicians like Brian Eno, painting veritable images with the dips and swirls of the carefully crafted music, especially in tracks like “Another Day.” The music is full of xylophones, “spooky” sound effects, and unexpected twists, turns and key changes tailored to the auditory theme of each piece. It plays upon memories and fantasies, working with abstract form and musical color.

If ambient music was a visual art form, it would be surrealism, as manifested in their wistful, daydream-like songs. Though a little more pop-oriented than Air’s previous albums, [i.e. Moon Safari or the soundtrack to “The Virgin Suicides”], this musical painting is still open to interpretation. It’s chill and passive; good for lazy Saturday walks or soothing away nightmares. It’s positive and friendly and full of warmth and grace. Talkie Walkie is definitely not for the masses, but more for the artistic and art aficionados.