Xiu Xiu – The Air Force (2006)

Official rating: 70

The Air Force is a mechanical wonder. Warm, but robotic, it spins noise and clunky jam gears, setting in motion an apparatus eager to pluck synthetic heartstrings.

“Buzz Saw” opens the experiment with delicate piano & chimes, stark snare, and languid vocals, as if the Frankenstein is just starting to wake up. Then “Boy Soprano” kicks in with awakened joy. After a chimy stroll, “Vulture Piano” regains the velocity as a slap-happy, toe-tapper. From there, the album goes numb and slows down into hazy calculations until “Save Me”, a rolling, orchestral plea, afterwards collapsing back into the lull.

Symphonic and artificial, The Air Force struggles to support the density of Jamie Stewart’s vocals, but at least produces a level of enchantment that makes it worthy of curiosity. At times charismatic, the album pushes its distinctive sound forward, but doesn’t have the strength to engrave it.

Posted on by chris Posted in Music

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