Messieurs Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel – better known as French electronic duo Air – should really have titled this album Moon Safari 2. Recorded in their plush northern Paris studio, Atlas, their fifth long-playing outing doesn’t feature anything quite as immediately catchy as ‘Sexy Boy’, but is as moodily Moogy, kitschily retro and futuristically funky as their classic 1998 debut.
The band handle all vocal duties themselves – with lots of interesting effects and distortion – and many of the tracks are underpinned by the solid grooves provided by guest percussionist Joey Waronker (who played with them on their Close Up tour last year).
What are the songs about? Who cares? Air are lightweight heavyweights. If you’re seeking some tunes to soundtrack a long journey, post club chill-out or erotic adventure, look no further. Love 2 is a noir-ish art-house movie set on the deck of the Starship Enterprise.