POCKET SYMPHONY - AIR
After the disappointing “10,000 Hz Legend,” French duo Air rebounded in a major way with 2004’s “Talkie Walkie,” arguably a better album than the group’s famed debut, “Moon Safari.” “Pocket Symphony” suffers by that comparison, but it introduces enough intriguing new elements (Japanese instruments, British guest vocalists) to earn its place in the Air canon. The instrumental “Space Maker” opens the disc in ultrasexy fashion, and “Mer du Japon” is the kind of strident electro-pop one wishes they’d produce more of. Jarvis Cocker takes the mic on “Hell of a Party,” an ironic title considering it’s probably the most depressing Air song of all time. More in keeping with the group’s aesthetic are “Once Upon a Time” and “Left Bank,” driven by crafty acoustic guitar/piano leads and phonetic English singing that still engender a smile. Billboard
