Xiu Xiu - The Air ForceRelease: September 15, 2006 - 5RC
Please forgive me for repeating myself, but Xiu Xiu is an important band. Primarily a moniker for Jamie Stewart and whoever he wants to play with him, Xiu Xiu is not only prolific in their output, but they're consistently interesting. What some people call a 'train wreck', others (like myself) call beautiful.
Xiu Xiu make beauty from the most amazing sounds and textures. Comparing Xiu Xiu to Talk Talk is like comparing Oasis to the Beatles, it requires a hearty dose of 'no shit'. It seems, however, that Xiu Xiu is creating these things from scratch. The unlistenable musical segments are still, somehow, compellingly listenable. Stretches of noise are, for the most part, left behind before you can't tolerate it any more.
The first track 'Buzzsaw' intimately introduces the record with Xiu Xiu's patented awkward beauty. 'I'm not like that...' rings in your ears, and somehow gets stuck in your head. Like a cracker in your beard. Songs like 'Boy Soprano' and 'Vulture Piano' include more instrumentation, while reminding us of the most accessible tracks from A Promise and Knife Play.
Halfway through the album, however, The Air Force seems to hit a reef. The first few cohesive tracks are then followed by five songs which have no tempo or chorus. Until finally, track nine ('Save Me') gives you something to move to again.
This latest effort from Xiu Xiu is, all in all, right in line with their previous efforts. Great, moving tracks are offset by formless musical beauty. All of this is, of course, par for the Xiu Xiuic course. While Xiu Xiu haven't exactly progressed lightyears since last year's outing La Foret, it is still a great album, and is perhaps one of their best.
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