Par Avion (album)

Par Avion
Studio album by
Xeno & Oaklander
ReleasedJune 24, 2014 (2014-06-24)
StudioX&O (Brooklyn, New York)[1]
Length31:59
LabelGhostly International
Producer
  • Sean McBride
  • Liz Wendelbo
Xeno & Oaklander chronology
Sets & Lights
(2011) 		Par Avion
(2014) 		Topiary
(2016)
Singles from Par Avion
  1. "Sheen"
    Released: May 15, 2013[2]
  2. "Par Avion"
    Released: November 12, 2013[3]
  3. "Interface"
    Released: April 15, 2014[4]

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]

Background

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

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic72/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
Exclaim!6/10[16]
The Line of Best Fit6/10[17]
Uncut8/10[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.

Par Avion track listing
No.TitleLength
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

References

  1. ^ a b Xeno & Oaklander (2014). Par Avion (CD booklet). Ghostly International.
  2. ^ Hudson, Alex (May 15, 2013). "Xeno & Oaklander "Sheen"". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  3. ^ "Par Avion | Xeno & Oaklander". Bandcamp. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  4. ^ "GI-212 Xeno & Oaklander — Interface". Ghostly International. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Par Avion by Xeno & Oaklander". Metacritic. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Phares, Heather. "Xeno & Oaklander". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  7. ^ Crowell, John (September 8, 2014). "Xeno & Oaklander". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  8. ^ Neyland, Nick (May 15, 2013). "Xeno & Oaklander: "Sheen"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  9. ^ Hudson, Alex (April 24, 2013). "Xeno & Oaklander Team Up with Electric Voice Records for New "Sheen" Single". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  10. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (November 12, 2013). "Xeno & Oaklander: "Par Avion"". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  11. ^ Adams, Gregory (April 15, 2014). "Xeno & Oaklander Sign to Ghostly International for 'Par Avion'". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  12. ^ "Xeno & Oaklander releasing new LP on Ghostly (streams), DJing at Other Music on #RSD14, opening for Adult. in NYC". BrooklynVegan. April 15, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  13. ^ "Xeno & Oaklander released a new single and video, album out this fall". BrooklynVegan. August 12, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  14. ^ "Xeno & Oaklander released their new LP (stream it), playing Baby's in August after July's MHOW show". BrooklynVegan. June 30, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c Phares, Heather. "Par Avion - Xeno & Oaklander". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Zlatopolosky, Ashley (July 15, 2014). "Xeno & Oaklander". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Todd, Chris (July 17, 2014). "Xeno & Oaklander - Par Avion". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
  18. ^ Martin, Piers (September 2014). "New Albums". Uncut: 81.
  19. ^ Sweeney, Joe (July 1, 2014). "Xeno & Oaklander — Par Avion". The Quietus. Retrieved July 20, 2025.

Further reading

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