Air have returned with an album of delicately constructed, rich and cinematic songs. In fact two of them, Mike Mills and Alone In Kyoto, were written for film soundtracks - Alone In Kyoto is in the Sofia Coppola film Lost In Translation while Mike Mills appears to be waiting for a film to be in.

Godin and Dunckel have chosen to play or program all of the instruments themselves. This has allowed them to show a different side to themselves, an easier side to listen to compared with their last album, 10,000Hz. The whole of this new album has a dreamy and almost pastoral feel to it. The vocals are soft and wispy, the music itself is pared back and uncluttered, and there is a serenity that appears all pervading.

From the well-judged, low-key drama of the opening number Venus, through the plucked acoustic simplicity of Universal Traveller, to the beautiful Alone In Kyoto - this is a great album. There are tracks like the sweetly sung Cherry Blossom Girl, a highlight of the album, which brings a lightness combined with a catchy downtempo pop chorus. Talkie Walkie is an excellent return and yet another new incarnation for Air; may there be many more.

Label: Source/Virgin
Release date: January 26th 2004

Tracklist:

1. Venus
2. Cherry Blossom Girl
3. Run
4. Universal Traveler
5. Mike Mills
6. Surfing On A Rocket
7. Another Day
8. Alpha Beta Gaga
9. Biological
10. Alone In Kyoto