Big Shot had an advance listen of Air‘s upcoming fifth album, Love 2, which is due on October 6th, and we can report that the 12-song collection is perhaps the duo’s best effort since their timeless debut, Moon Safari. Love 2 sports their reliable brand of downtempo magic, but they seem to have peppered it with touches of psychedlia that recalls early recordings by Stereolab. Recorded at the pair’s Atlas Studio, Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Nicolas Godin recorded and produced the album by themselves. LA-based drummer/percussionist Joey Waronker, who had previously joined them for their intimate, three-man Close up tour of south-east Asia last fall, is in the mix, as well as frequent collaborator Stéphane “Alf” Briat. A viral single “Do The Joy” will be made available digitally on July 7th, followed by a formal single, “Sing Sang Sung” on August 25th. Air will embark on a European tour in early 2010 starting at the legendary Casino de Paris in their hometown and will then head to North America in the Spring.
