Nothing new from French duo
'LOVE 2' is the hotly anticipated sixth studio album from French duo Nicholas Godin and JB Dunckel.
Interestingly, this is their first attempt at producing a record entirely by themselves, which was recorded in their own Atlas Studio in Paris. Known mostly for Jean Michel Jarre inspired synth swirls and bleeps over pulsing bass lines and the odd vocoded vocal, this effort doesn't stray much from the path that Air have beaten for themselves.
The album feautures all that one would expect from an Air record.
The instrumentation and general vibe from the opening tracks are instantly recognisable and the intro to "Love" sounds as though it is a slightly reworked version of "You Make It Easy".
As well as producing this album themselves, the duo have also taken on all the vocal duties after some poorly recieved collaborations on 2007 release Pocket Symphony. "So Light Is Her Footfall" may have fared better with the French accented female vocal of Beth Hirsh circa Moon Safari.
There is a definite indie inspired feel to the album too with the oddly titled "Be A Bee" not sounding too far away from Joy Division at times. Also, "Missing The Light Of The Day" unashamedly echoes Depeche Mode.
Whilst there is nothing as brilliant as "Sexy Boy" on Love 2, it does have its moments. "Sing Sang Sung" is probably the only track worthy of being a single, while the jazzy blues of final track "African Velvet" is pretty groovey.
I'm sure fans of Air will like this album, but there is nothing groundbreaking going on here. The name Air is a backronym for what translates as Love, Imagination, Dream. Where "Love 2" has the love and the dreaminess, it definitely lacks in imagination.
Rating: 5/10
• Mikey Maguire is a 1st Year Music Technology student in IT Tralee.
- MIKEY MAGUIRE
