It's been over a decade since
Paul Armand-Delille
and
Alexandre Grynszpan
pooled their resources to become
Polo & Pan
, resident bon vivants of European house music. Not unlike fellow Frenchmen
Air
,
are musical polymaths who, though tethered to the electronic genre, are relatively unencumbered by it. Over numerous singles, almost a dozen EPs, and two albums, they've built a distinctive world of tuxedoed luxury that is cinematic and playful. On
22:22
, their third full-length, the duo make a more conscious shift toward straight-up songwriting, with plenty of live instrumentation and a clutch of new collaborators from outside their usual field. It's a gentle though notable evolution. Longtime fans will be drawn in by "Pareidolies," a lush, semi-Balearic cut bearing
's signature bounce and sung by the duo themselves. After this, the parade of guests begins. A new emphasis on Anglophone collaborators brings a fresh perspective along with a handful of clunky lines. The
Metronomy
-assisted "Disco Nap" has enough pluck to overcome its weak lyrics, while the pseudo-soul of "Petite Etoile," featuring American singer
Beth Ditto
, feels slightly overwrought.
sound almost American on the breezy, West Coast "Summer is Almost Over," an unassisted standout that benefits from having only one line. More successful among the collaborations is "Nenuphar," a stylish bit of string-adorned electro-disco led by the international, all-female collective
I.M. YONI
. "Bluetopia," with French indie poppers
Kids Return
, is another highlight that emphasizes the duo's brighter pop side.
is a little uneven and doesn't play as cohesively as
's two earlier records, but there is plenty to love amid its undeniable grooves. ~ Timothy Monger