Musical Notes: Darkel

Those of you in the know have probably already heard JB Dunckel aka Darkel‘s solo endeavor. For those of you not in the know, Dunckel, who made a name for himself as one half of French musical visionaires, Air, just released a self-titled solo album.

With it, Darkel continues his exploration of electronic absurdity. While there are definitely some provocative beats and engaging lyrics, it’s a lop-sided effort to say the least. The opening track, “Be My Friend,” features cinematic-friendly, dreamy beats with lackluster lyrics. “My Own Sun” surprises the listener with a poppy, nearly twee hand-clapping frenzy that sticks out like a sore thumb, while “Pearl” seems like a leftover from Air’s 10,000 Hz Legend.

Still, it’s not all bad. For example, we’re pretty in love with the single, “At the End of The Sky,” a seemingly nonsensical trip into the origins of life, love, and everything else featuring sliding guitar, comforting drums, and Darkel’s soft, dreamy vocals.

To hear (and see!) what we’re talking about, check out the video – a delightful animated piece that takes the viewer from earth to space and back again. Where? After the jump, of course.