Par Avion (album)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Par Avion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 24, 2014 | |||
| Studio | X&O (Brooklyn, New York)[1] | |||
| Length | 31:59 | |||
| Label | Ghostly International | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Xeno & Oaklander chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Par Avion | ||||
Par Avion is a studio album by Xeno & Oaklander, a duo of Sean McBride and Liz Wendelbo. It was released on June 24, 2014, through Ghostly International. It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[5]
Xeno & Oaklander consists of American musician Sean McBride and French/Norwegian musician Liz Wendelbo.[6] They are originally from Brooklyn, New York.[7]
In 2013, the duo released the single "Sheen" through Electric Voice.[8] It was made available as a digital download accompanied with a silk-screened, pocket-sized pamphlet, limited to 2,000 copies.[9] The duo then signed to Ghostly International and released the singles "Par Avion" (2013)[10] and "Interface" (2014).[11]
For Par Avion, the duo took inspiration from synesthesia.[6] The album was released on June 24, 2014, through Ghostly International.[12] Music videos were released for the songs "Sheen"[13] and "Par Avion".[14]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 72/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [15] |
| Exclaim! | 6/10[16] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 6/10[17] |
| Uncut | 8/10[18] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Par Avion received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 from 7 critic scores.[5]
Ashley Zlatopolsky of Exclaim! stated, "Xeno & Oaklander aren't modest or shy about their synth use; it's the main element in each of the nine tracks, slowed down and sped up to suit corresponding echoing vocals (both in English and French) balanced with distant, low-key drums."[16] Heather Phares of AllMusic commented that "the album presents some of their most delicate and nuanced material alongside some of their most direct songs."[15] She added, "At once hookier and more abstract than some of X&O's previous albums, Par Avion is another subtle step forward for the duo that should please longtime fans and win new ones."[15]
Chris Todd of The Line of Best Fit commented that "Par Avion is awash with slightly gothic electronic doom in thrall to Giorgio Moroder and proto-industrial types Crash Course in Science in equal measure, but by continuing to use such a clinical production ethic, they will always remain obtuse, pale executors of the slightly indie, slightly analogue thing, and slightly ethereal, esoteric electro thing."[17] Joe Sweeny of The Quietus stated, "McBride and Wendelbo spend a third of the album singing two different lyric sheets simultaneously, and while it's an ambitious idea when you look at the words side by side, it has a muddying effect on a style that thrives on simplicity."[19]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Sean McBride and Liz Wendelbo.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Interface" | 5:01 |
| 2. | "Lastly" | 3:09 |
| 3. | "Sheen" | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Par Avion" | 4:17 |
| 5. | "Jasmine Nights" | 4:14 |
| 6. | "Reflections" | 2:26 |
| 7. | "Nuage d'Ivoire" | 3:23 |
| 8. | "Providence" | 2:11 |
| 9. | "G. Bruno" | 3:20 |
| Total length: | 31:59 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[1]
- Sean McBride – synthesizer, drum machine, vocals, production
- Liz Wendelbo – synthesizer, drum machine, vocals, production, assemblage, design
- Rick Kwan – mixing (1, 2, 9)
- Chris Coady – mixing (3–8)
- Heba Kadry – mastering
- Kelsey Henderson – painting
- Xeno & Oaklander – excavated silkscreens