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It
was always going to be interesting, to see how Air would present
such laid-back music in a live setting.
Their latest album, Talkie Walkie, is something of a return to the
dreamlike, ethereal sound of their breakthough record Moon Safari,
rather than the ill-advised prog-rock departure of 10,000hz Legend.
In fact, songs from the latter, critically-panned, album are notable
by their absence.
Unfortunately this means that the tempo barely changes through the
evening.
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| Air |
The
sight of Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Nicholas Godin, smart as they are
in immaculate black suits, strumming and tinkling away on the stage,
does not amount to much visual stimulation.
Similar-sounding Zero 7, who come to the Guildhall next month, manage
to maintain interest by allowing their different vocalists to take
centre stage, and then hide behind them.
In
contrast, the kind of studied French cool in which Air specialise
did not translate too well to a live setting, with the duo seeming
fairly detached from proceedings.
Their former professions were maths teacher and architect respectively,
and frankly, you can tell.
The sell-out crowd, average age of around 30, plus a scattering
of students, swayed gently, and nodded heads as the music drifted
over them.
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| Air |
The
prominent sign to the side of the stage forbidding crowd surfing
was probably unnecessary.
Latest single Cherry Blossom Girl lifted the crowd temporarily and
recieved a muted cheer, but the serried ranks of young professionals
then settled down again quickly.
The gig finishes with Air rocking out to Sexy Boy, which they tell
us they had refused to play for several years until this tour.
The crowd showed their appreciation and the gig was generally well
received, but whether people left feeling they could have been at
home listening to the album in comfort, is a good question.
The unqualified plus for the evening was seeing the Guildhall reach
out to a new audience, attracting a crowd who would probably rarely
go to a gig in Southampton.
What did you think of Air ? Have your say on our Music
Message Board.
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