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5:55 [Enhanced]

~ Charlotte Gainsbourg
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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5 new from £4.00 11 used from £3.07 1 collectible from £6.99

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Product details

  • Audio CD (4 Sep 2006)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Format: Enhanced
  • Label: Because
  • ASIN: B000H309E2
  • Other Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 54,234 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

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

Product Description

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

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (11)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful find, utterly charming, 9 Sep 2006
By c westwood (London) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)      
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.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A thing of great beauty, 23 Oct 2006
By Andy Millward (Broxbourne, Herts, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)      
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.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Beautiful!!!, 14 Sep 2006
By Faridon Telefoni "mefisto37" (Denmark) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Atmospheric, timeless and mesmerizing. Reminds me of "Serge Gainsbourg", Mick Harvey, Anita Lane and Tindersticks...Buy it now!!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Divine Pulp Air Songs That We Sing
Teaming up with the people who brought you The Divine Comedy, Pulp and Air, Charlotte Gainsbourg delivers a shimmery collection of songs, whispered confessions and savage... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Richard Hine

5.0 out of 5 stars Ditto
Thanks for the very accurate reviews.
Have bought cds on the strength of reviews before and have quite ofen been disappointed.Not this time. Read more
Published 8 months ago by T. S. Lansdale

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than Pocket Symphony by AIR
This is a lovely record, very french, very melodic and showing all the beauty of a typical AIR release. Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2007 by Bruce Percy

4.0 out of 5 stars Magnifique
I came across this searching for stuff from Air, and it's absolutely terrific. Charlotte's gorgeous breathy voice and some tremendous music from the Air boys make for a great... Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2007 by David Atherton

5.0 out of 5 stars Album of the Year !
Spread the word about this absoluely fantastic album! Most will have discovered this CD by divine intervention especially in the U.S. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2006 by D. Swenson

5.0 out of 5 stars 5.55 out of 5 stars
Just a gorgeous album, uplifting and lipchewing at the same time, perfect bright pop with cool shadows, like Air's 'You Make It Easy'(must admit, I prefer this to most of their... Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2006 by Nick

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over Norah Jones
If Norah won 8 Grammies for her over-rated one-off hit wonder, this highly original album should win 40. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2006 by Mr. Shumit Rehman

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love AIR
you will love this CD. Great lyrics (From ex-PULP from man Jarvis Cocker) and music from AIR. And of course Charlotte's voice. It is a great album. Worth to have. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2006 by Elaluf Calderwood

4.0 out of 5 stars pop for grown-ups
In what appears to be a one-off diversion from her film career, Gainsbourg comes up with a subtle, low-key album of new songs written by Air, Neil Hannon and Jarvis Cocker... Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2006 by Xepha

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow the best album i've heard this year.
Wow this is incredible. Being a massive fan of air and the divine comedy I knew it would be good but I wasn't expecting it to be this good. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2006 by Gary Robson

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