ON the face of it, the new album by quirky, enigmatic French duo Air sees studio boffins Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Nicolas Godin emerge from behind the controls to take centre stage - even appearing on the front cover and performing all the vocals themselves, rather than drafting in guest singers.

Although Air are probably known to the casual listener mainly for their 1998 hit Sexy Boy, from debut album Moon Safari, their distinctive, cinematic music even rivals Moby for being used everywhere - in films, adverts and TV.

They scored Sofia Coppola's movie The Virgin Suicides, while the closing track on Talkie Walkie, brooding instrumental Alone In Kyoto, appears in her current smash, Lost In Translation. But, although it may look as though Air want to make a more direct and personal record, Talkie Walkie further demonstrates that soundtracks are their forte, not pop singles - you won't find another Sexy Boy on here.

With Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich on board, the music slowly unfolds amid hypnotic acoustic guitar figures, tasteful electronic noise and stylish strings, while Godin and Dunckel croon in their Gallic accents through digital effects.

Imagine Serge Gainsbourg inviting Stereolab and Pink Floyd round to admire his bachelor pad on the Rive Gauche.

It's all very pleasant, and the dark edge of tracks such as Run and Venus rescues even their breeziest moments from just being upmarket background music, but the lacklustre vocals and lyrics ultimately fail to hook you. A case of Air we go again, rather than a breath of fresh Air.

Updated: 10:07 Thursday, January 29, 2004