10 000 Hz Legend

10 000 Hz Legend is the second studio album by French electronic music duo Air. It was released in France on 28 May 2001 by Virgin Records and in the United States on 29 May 2001 by Astralwerks. On this album, tracks are longer and more electronic-oriented than on their previous records. These experimentations find the duo expanding their capacities and working with other artists including Beck and suGar Yoshinaga of Buffalo Daughter.

10 000 Hz Legend
Studio album by Air
Released	28 May 2001 (2001-05-28)
Recorded	2000–2001
Studio	Appolo, Paris Bomb Factory, Los Angeles Hollywood Sound, Hollywood Capitol, Hollywood
Genre	Space rock[1] new prog[2] progressive rock[3] electronic[4]
Length	60:44
Label	Source Virgin
Producer	Air Tony Hoffer
Air chronology
The Virgin Suicides (2000) 10 000 Hz Legend (2001) Talkie Walkie (2004)
Singles from 10 000 Hz Legend
"Radio #1" Released: 14 May 2001[5] "Don't Be Light" Released: 18 February 2002[6] "How Does It Make You Feel?" Released: 18 February 2002[7] "People in the City" Released: 18 February 2002[8]

The album artwork was produced by Ito Morabito and its cover image features Monument Valley, located on the Arizona–Utah border.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	68/100[9]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
Alternative Press	8/10[11]
Entertainment Weekly	C[12]
The Guardian	[13]
Muzik	5/5[14]
NME	9/10[2]
Pitchfork	7.6/10[15]
Q	[16]
Rolling Stone	[17]
Spin	7/10[18]

10 000 Hz Legend received generally favourable reviews from critics. Most reviewers focused on the group's departure from the sound of 1998's Moon Safari, although the soundtrack album The Virgin Suicides (2000) had a similar mood and sound. Q listed 10 000 Hz Legend as one of the 50 best albums of 2001.[19]

The American music website Stereogum takes its name from the lyrics of the song "Radio #1".[20]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jean-Benoît Dunckel and Nicolas Godin, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Electronic Performers"	5:36
2.	"How Does It Make You Feel?"	4:37
3.	"Radio #1"	4:22
4.	"The Vagabond" (lyrics by Dunckel, Godin and Beck Hansen)	5:37
5.	"Radian"	7:37
6.	"Lucky and Unhappy"	4:31
7.	"Sex Born Poison" (lyrics by Dunckel, Godin and suGar Yoshinaga)	6:18
8.	"People in the City"	4:57
9.	"Wonder Milky Bitch"	5:50
10.	"Don't Be Light"	6:18
11.	"Caramel Prisoner"	4:58

Japanese edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
12.	"The Way You Look Tonight"	3:46

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of 10 000 Hz Legend.[21]

Musicians

• Air – arrangement
• Brian Reitzell – drums (tracks 2–5, 8–10); drum sounds (tracks 3, 10)
• Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass (tracks 2, 3, 5, 10); solo vocals (track 3); drum sound (tracks 3, 10)
• Roger Joseph Manning Jr – keyboards (tracks 3, 5, 10); vocals (tracks 2, 3)
• Beck Hansen – vocals (tracks 4, 10); harmonica (track 4)
• Jason Falkner – vocals (tracks 3, 6, 8)
• Ken Andrews – vocals (tracks 3, 6, 8)
• Buffalo Daughter – vocals (track 7)
• Lisa Papineau – vocals (track 6)
• Jean Croc – whistle (track 10)
• Elin Carlson – solo soprano (track 10)
• Barbara Cohen – voice (track 5)
• Corky Hale – harp (track 5)
• Julia Sarr – background vocals (track 8)
• Olyza – background vocals (track 8)
• Thomas – hand claps (track 4)
• Annabel – hand claps (track 4)
• Jean-Benoît Dunckel – hand claps (track 4)
• Roger Neill – string, choir and flute conducting, arrangement

Technical

• Air – recording, production
• Julien Marty – sound engineering
• Julien Doubey – sound engineering
• Pascal Garnon – drum recording
• Brian Kehew – sound engineering
• Bruce Keen – sound engineering, editing
• Tony Hoffer – additional production, editing, mixing
• Julien Delfaud – mixing assistance
• Nilesh Patel – mastering
• Stéphane Elfassi – executive production
• Marc Teissier du Cros – executive production

Artwork

• Abake – Air logo, layout
• Ora-Ïto – concept, design
• Arno Bani – photography

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2001) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[22] 13 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[23] 7 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[24] 20 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] 8 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[26] 39 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[27] 54 European Albums (Music & Media)[28] 8 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[29] 13 French Albums (SNEP)[30] 7 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31] 7 Irish Albums (IRMA)[32] 14 Italian Albums (FIMI)[33] 18 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[34] 86 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[35] 35 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[36] 3 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[37] 30 Scottish Albums (OCC)[38] 11 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 39 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 11 UK Albums (OCC)[41] 7 US Billboard 200[42] 88 US Independent Albums (Billboard)[43] 2 US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[44] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2001) Position UK Albums (OCC)[45] 195

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[46]	Gold	100,000^^
United States	—	80,000[47]
Summaries
Worldwide	—	600,000[48]
^^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

1. https://pitchfork.com/features/5-10-15-20/8764-air/
2. Oldham, James (16 May 2001). "Air : 10,000Hz Legend". NME. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/32rg/
4. https://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21990-twentyears/amp/
5. "Radio 1: Air". Amazon (France) (in French). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
6. "Don't Be Light: Air". Amazon (France) (in French). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
7. "How Does It Make You Feel?: Air". Amazon (France) (in French). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
8. "People in the City: Air". Amazon (France) (in French). Retrieved 2 August 2019.
9. "Reviews for 10,000 Hz Legend by Air". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
10. Bush, John. "10,000 Hz Legend – Air". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 7 January 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
11. "Air: 10 000 Hz Legend". Alternative Press. No. 156. July 2001. pp. 58–59. ISSN 1065-1667.
12. Browne, David (1 June 2001). "10,000 Hz Legend". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
13. Simpson, Dave (25 May 2001). "A trip down prog alley". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
14. Bell, Duncan (June 2001). "Air: 10 000 Hz Legend (Source)". Muzik. No. 73. p. 67. ISSN 1358-541X.
15. Kearney, Ryan (28 May 2001). "Air: 10000 Hz Legend". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
16. "Air: 10 000 Hz Legend". Q. No. 178. July 2001. p. 106. ISSN 0955-4955.
17. Blashill, Pat (14 May 2001). "Air: 10,000 Hz Legend". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
18. Walters, Barry (July 2001). "Air: 10,000 Hz. Legend". Spin. Vol. 17 no. 7. pp. 126–27. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved 1 August 2019 – via Google Books.
19. "The Best 50 Albums of 200". Q. No. 185. December 2001. pp. 60–65. ISSN 0955-4955.
21. 10 000 Hz Legend (liner notes). Air. Virgin Records. 2001. 7243 8 10332 2 7.CS1 maint: others (link)
22. "Australiancharts.com – Air – 10000 Hz Legend". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
23. "Austriancharts.at – Air – 10000 Hz Legend" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
24. "Ultratop.be – Air – 10000 Hz Legend" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
25. "Ultratop.be – Air – 10000 Hz Legend" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
26. "Danishcharts.dk – Air – 10000 Hz Legend". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
27. "Dutchcharts.nl – Air – 10000 Hz Legend" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
28. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19 no. 25. 16 June 2001. p. 8. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 1 August 2019 – via American Radio History.
29. "Air: 10 000 Hz Legend" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
30. "Lescharts.com – Air – 10000 Hz Legend". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
31. "Offiziellecharts.de – Air – 10000 Hz Legend" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
32. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Air". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
33. "Italiancharts.com – Air – 10000 Hz Legend". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
34. エールのアルバム売り上げランキング [Air album sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
35. "Charts.nz – Air – 10000 Hz Legend". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
36. "Norwegiancharts.com – Air – 10000 Hz Legend". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
37. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
38. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
39. "Swedishcharts.com – Air – 10000 Hz Legend". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
40. "Swisscharts.com – Air – 10000 Hz Legend". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
41. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
42. "Air Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
43. "Air Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
44. "Air Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
45. "UK Year-End Charts 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. p. 6. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
46. "British album certifications – Air – 10,000 Hz Legend". British Phonographic Industry. 9 November 2001. Retrieved 1 August 2019. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type 10,000 Hz Legend in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
47. Paoletta, Michael (29 December 2001). "Beat Box: 2001 in Review". Billboard. Vol. 113 no. 52. p. 35. ISSN 0006-2510.
48. Juzwiak, Rich (1 February 2004). "Air Quality". CMJ Music Monthly. p. 21.