Darkel - 'Darkel' (EMI) Released 18/09/06

Darkel is the solo project of Jean Benoit Dunckel who has layed down this recording over the last two years as nocturnal homework between recordings with his Air buddy and co. No talk of a split then, just a solo mission and bringing an art-pop album with 80's retro stylings and those oozy calm Air signatures that have you bathing in keyboard sonics. 

Opening this release with one of the standout tracks, 'Be My Friend' oozes the dancefloor glitz and mirrorballs, a piece of retro-futurism with nutcracking beats and keys/sequencers galore making for multi-textured clubby anthem with Monsieur Dunckel's breathy vocals - "...be my friend/ until the end of time...". Jean does a good line in the euro-pop of the cute vocal stylings with the English delivery and the accent just so on 'The End Of The Sky' and sultry on 'Beautiful Woman'. Stoogey 'TV Destroy' will appease the Electro-clash hangover with its art-punk-pop, remonstrations of electro-feedback noodling, hammering drumming and "...destroy your tv destroy..." set to a rocking pinball melody to pogo away to.

Low-key affairs occur with  solo piano and minimal keyboard string effects on 'Some Men' paying homage to J.C. - "...I've been waiting/ for you for so long..." and possesses its Airy qualities as on Virgin Suicides OST, and 'Pearl' like Beach Boys/Pink Floyd hybrid. 'How Brave You Are' has its share of atmosphere and father to son hand on the shoulder advice - "...goodbye don't cry for me my son/ show me how brave you are..." and the ethereal keys and breathy vocals. 'My Own Sun' skips with glee and confidence on a Iggy Pop style boogie woogie with piano and handclaps - "...something burns in me/ something yearns in me/ I'm my own sun..." cutesy vocals and affirmative pop. 'Earth' provides a boring wallpaper affair with biscuit tin beats - "...we belong to the earth/ doesn't belong to us..." delivered as a Kraftwerkian maxim with angelic choral effects. Instrumental 'Bathroom Spirit' has the mellow keys and Gary Numan retroism down pat allowing the paint to dry on this release.

Darkel shows he's a programming whizz in his own right who can go it alone with his Frenchy, breathy and effeminate vocals. This is an album that's hard to take seriously for its camp glam-art-pop qualities shine through its rear sequencers and merely titillates the sonic palate with its lightness of touch, yet works best when more out there and aimed at swinging the jacket on the dancefloor. Air fans will lap it up as will the Royksopp clan, the programming is accomplished if twee and the bass playing of an order. Just leaves a hankering for a bit more meat and gristle - electro-core.