RELEASED: 21 January 2004 French duo Air's 1998 debut, "Moon Safari", was a veritable celebration of downbeat electronica. They followed it up with a film score and then another album - neither of which I've ever heard. I came back to Air with "Talkie Walkie" after hearing first single "Cherry Blossom Girl", thinking the new album could be a bit like the magnificent "Moon Safari". It was and it wasn't. Similar without being soundalike, reminiscent without being repetitious. And ten years later? "Alpha Beta Gaga" and "Alone In Kyoto" are still favourite tracks and, as electronic albums go, "Talkie Walkie" has dated pretty well. It doesn't quite give me the sublime chills I still get from "Moon Safari", but it's always been a worthy successor.
I'm just a guy who loves words. I discover vast tracts of uncharted enjoyment by chucking words together and coming up with stuff that talks about the things I enjoy and love most. I'm also a massive listaholic, so I'm probably talking about a list, looking at a list or banging away at another What Culture list as you read this. My tone's pretty relaxed and conversational, with a liberal sprinkling of sparkling wit, wilting sarcasm and occasional faux-condescension - with tongue almost always firmly planted in cheek.
