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February 22, 2007

New Air - "Once Upon A Time"

Like the best in Air's incomparable catalog, "Once Upon A Time" is tough to hold down, both evocative yet languidly detached, at once rife with instrumentation and as buoyant as, well, air. It's the first single from Pocket Symphony, and the one for which they just shot a note perfect video. We tend toward hyperbole with the band that gave this blog its name, so we'll spare you the gush and just let you at the track. It's awesome. (Sorry couldn't help it.)

Air - "Once Upon A Time" (MP3)

Enjoy.

Pocket Symphony is out 3/6 on Astralwerks.

Posted at 6:00 PM in
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14 Comments

Better than anything off Neon Bible.

Posted by: tjxm at 02/22/07 6:23 PM | Reply
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I've been listening to this album for a while, and I can't quite make up my mind. I wouldn't describe myself as an Air fan (they're certainly not in my top 10 favorite groups), but I honestly thought that Talkie Walkie was one of the best albums released since 2000. So... so far I'm a little disappointed.

Posted by: Eric DH at 02/23/07 1:44 AM | Reply
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I really think Air has that certain je-ne-sais-quoi...

I'm not a fan (they wouldn't appear in my top 10 either, but I do like them (still believe Moon Safari to be quite awesome).
Their new song (and video !) are really great... Haven't heard their new album yet, but I'm curious to hear it...

Posted by: Sven at 02/23/07 3:53 AM | Reply
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The song is quite good with the video, but the album as a whole is really quite boring. I hope it grows on me, but it doesn't seem like that sort of album.

Posted by: John at 02/23/07 4:00 AM | Reply
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definitely agree with john. napalm love however has a truly great groove. possibly the best track on the new album. seems like an album that's best for background music, not to say that that's necessarily a bad thing. just if you listen to it straight up, it is a bit boring.

Posted by: Rob z. at 02/23/07 7:41 AM | Reply
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they are in my top 10. hell, i'd even say my top 3. and as far as i'm concerned they can do no wrong (as long as they're not attempting solo projects that is).

Posted by: jp at 02/23/07 8:15 AM | Reply
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Who's on the new album? I hated the Beck collaborations on 10,000Mhz Legend. That's when I tuned out on Air.

Posted by: Fex at 02/23/07 8:50 AM | Reply
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this sounds like a too mild version of the air i love! their earlist catalogue work is their finest. "remember" is still one of my favorite songs many years later...

Posted by: air_fan at 02/23/07 10:58 AM | Reply
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Been an Air fan for a while now, I still like Premiers Symptomes better than anything else (Moon Safari a close second). It's been a long journey down since that in my opinion. 10,000 hertz was terrible and i think Talkie Walkie was decent, but really overrated. When will Air stop fucking around with Japanese instruments and go back to 70's analog synths and moogs.
A note to Air: stop singing! It sounds terrible! Go back to instrumentals with the once-every-so-often female vocals. Thank you

Posted by: 3RA1N1AC at 02/23/07 4:04 PM | Reply
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Right on 3RA1N1AC! I know no real artist wants to go back to the same material they covered ten years ago, but still. This album sucks, it's way too soft and slow. I love 90s Air, but this tripe is enough to put Robbie Williams in a coma, and that's saying something...

Posted by: ashmodai at 02/23/07 6:27 PM | Reply
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I'll have to agree with others in that the album as a whoel seems kinda boring , judging from the songs I have heard so far. Talkie Walkie was quite good. I'm glad they aren't just rehashing that era though; why even bother to record if you're not doing anything new?

Posted by: alexis at 02/24/07 12:18 AM | Reply
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10,000Hz Legend is their masterpiece.. I think they've lost the appetite to do anything that off-the-wall again, unfortunately. Their problem is that their 'default' sound slides along the fine line between prettiness and blandness, and the new album is a bit too much of the latter.

Posted by: Richie at 02/24/07 11:47 PM | Reply
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just saw the vid premier of Muchmusic's, The Wedge.

i'm guessing that he's just lip-synchronizing on the original vocals. does anyone know who she is?

Posted by: jir at 03/03/07 12:08 AM | Reply
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Just been reading the comments on the new air cd that has just arrived here in the UK. I have to agree that I was disappointed when I first listened, expecting some thrilling electro bliss. However, after several dedicated listens (in the dark) on my ipod, it is growing. It is not a classic, true - but it is still head and shoulders above the majority of the dross being pumped out. Air: can we have a dance album please, I know you can do it!

Posted by: Nick at 03/21/07 8:11 PM | Reply
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