Me, Me, Me (CD) by Air Miami

0093624600022. New condition. CD. Having a record out on 4AD which looks like it was designed for release on Factory Records is perhaps the ultimate fulfillment of an Anglophile fantasy on Mark Robinson's part, but then again, it's not like he wasn't doing similar things already. As his and Bridget Cross' first major musical project following the end of Unrest, Air Miami isn't too far removed from the earlier band, but definitely concentrates more on a quirky, new wave-ish pop edge, as opposed to rough punk covers of King Crimson or the like, for instance. "I Hate Milk" and "World Cup Fever" become perfect opening tunes for the album as a result, the first pushing things on the frazzled feedback and hyper-keyboards front, the latter being probably one of the few soccer-related sports songs in American music history, at least up through the 20th century. Robinson's clean and bright singing fits snugly with the arrangements, and visions of John Hughes' movie montages suggest themselves as perfect visual accompaniment. Sweetly sung lyrics like "Neely"'s "Hey hey, I'm going to f*ck you up today" help add to the overall off-kilter appeal. Fellow Unrest veteran Cross gets plenty of chances to shine as well, with the jangling "Seabird" and "Afternoon Train," among others, calling to mind more obscure but no less lovely dawn-of-Thatcher combos as the Marine Girls and Young Marble Giants. Drummer Gabriel Stout is a fine successor to Phil Krauth's place with the traps, though given the lack of notable difference between their styles, one wonders exactly what went into Unrest calling it a day. Unsurprisingly, early drum machines provide percussion as well, a sonic signifier that also fits nicely more often than not. Me, Me, Me is a simpler musical pleasure than most, but it's a fine one, and when Robinson and Cross jointly croon "I love you" on "Special Angel," everything feels right. ~ Ned Raggett, Rovi