AIR: Pocket Symphony

I walked into Virgin Mega Store and accidentally saw my favorite band’s—AIR—new album, Pocket Symphony. Oh wow it was on sale. I smiled to myself, grabbed the CD, literally ran to the cashier and bought it. I rushed home to listen to it. And since then this CD has been playing in my Bose box!

These Parisian duo introduce me to instrumental music—song that doesn’t have to have lyrics or stories to tell. I was sick of pop music back then and was looking for something new. I first listened to 10,000 Hz Legend and murmured what the heck is this music. I’ve never heard of electronic sound like this before—smoky and cloudy. It’s very beautifully written and composed. After that I turn my back to cheesy pop music!

This new album has more instrumentals and less song some of which sound like Alone In Kyoto (from album Talkie Walkie)—improvised with some kind of an Asian instrument, I am not sure. According to their website, I am right. They spent a year learning far eastern (kinda wish that they chose some Thai instruments) classical instruments—the Koto and Shamisen—which were wonderfully blended into their western tunes. However, if I close my eyes and listen to “Somewhere Between Waking and Sleeping”, I think that it might be the song from Zero 7. Perhaps it’s because of the lead vocal. If you’d like to hear anything like 10,000 Hz Legend, you might be very disappointed. On the other hand, if you are a big fan, GO GET THIS ALBUM!

Next time will be the story of their live performance! Yes, I’ll go to their concert, again. This time might be a ripped-off ticket, but wtf! I love their muusik (French accent)