Track Listing

1. 5:55
2. AF607105
3. Operation
4. Tel Que Tu Es
5. Songs That We Sing
6. Beauty Mark
7. Little Monsters
8. Jamais
9. Night Time Intermission
10. Everything I Cannot See
11. Morning Song

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #81572 in Music
• Released on: 2006-09-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk Review
Even without Charlotte Gainsbourg's musical heritage, the prospect of an album written and performed by Air, with lyrics by Jarvis Cocker (ex-Pulp) and Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy) would be enough to entice most sensible music fans. But as a combination, 5.55 is far better than probably even the participants imagined it would be.

The combination of Air's trademark glide complements Gainsbourg's voice (which is less singing and more melodic, breathy recitation), to the point where, had the lyrical input been less than stellar, this could easily have sent the listener to sleep. Instead, the emotional detachment in Gainsbourg's delivery acts as a foil to the passion presented in the lyrics. For their part, Cocker and Hannon excel with their trademark darkly humourous input- the passenger on a doomed flight in "AF407105", the surgery/seduction metaphor in "The Operation", or the venomous "Jamais" being particular standouts.

Even though 5.55 bears all the hallmarks of its creators (if so inclined, one could see this as a new Air album, or imagine Cocker or Hannon singing the lyrics), it's even more than the sum of its parts and is almost certainly one of the best albums you'll hear in 2006 or beyond. --Thom Allott

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Customer Reviews

A thing of great beauty
This is a first for me: never before have I bought an album purely on the strength of Amazon reviews alone, but this is unquestionably a success for Amazon reviews since the album is sensationally good.

However, if you're looking for vocal pyrotechnics, look elsewhere - Charlotte Gainsbourg has inherited from her mother a breathy, dreamy voice, sometimes barely above a whisper. But her style is suited by the material to a tee. The music of Air has the same ethereal, unearthly quality that transcends mere chillout and transports the listener to another time and place. The stand out track for me is Everything I Cannot See - a haunting melody that stayed in my head for hours afterwards.

It is a thing of great beauty, maybe too laid back for its own good, but the delicate piano rhythms and Gainsbourg's voice work for the most part to perfection. To my wife, the more commercial side reminded her to some degree of Dido, though many other fine female singers may also spring to mind. I wonder how well Ms Gainsbourg would perform with jazz material, too. A fine debut album, promising much for her future career.

Simply Beautiful!!!
Atmospheric, timeless and mesmerizing. Reminds me of "Serge Gainsbourg", Mick Harvey, Anita Lane and Tindersticks...Buy it now!!!

A wonderful find, utterly charming
I picked this up in France having heard one track on the radio, and have been listening to it repeatedly since then. It's a thoroughly fresh and surprising listen from start to finish.

Gainsbourg's voice is not a strident, confident and trained instrument, but her subtle, tender, and at times timid delivery is very engaging. She was apparently so nervous at times recording the album that she sang from beneath a sheet. She need not have worried.

The duo that form Air provide the soundtrack, while Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon provide the lyrics. All have excelled themselves: the melodies are gorgeous, at times swooping and exultant, at times minimal and delicate; the lyrics are subtle and beguiling.

From first listening it struck me that this album is one of those collaborations that rarely comes along, which is pure magic. The chemistry between the collaborators was obviously just right, and has resulted in a fine creation.