French assholes.

Kidding! They couldn’t have been nicer.

A few interesting points:

• Per your help - thank you for making that last-minute shitshow of an experiment work, BTW - we asked them about the success of French bands like Phoenix (explosive) and guys like Sebastien Tellier (rising) in America. They could have never - never - anticipated it. Cue nervous laughter about Anti-French/Anti-American sentiments in the Bush era. But despite being a French Band in America for a while, now, they couldn’t be more psyched about it. Apparently, they’re good friends with Phoenix (former Astralwerks labelmates, too), and they’re legitimately happy for them.
• Other things: I asked them about the slightly more analog sound on the album they’ve taken. Turns out they’ve been listening to lots of Os Mutantes and African music in the leadup to recording Love 2. Take that in light of the still-not-played-out trend of African Influced White Indie Rock - like Vampire Weekend - or actual African music recieving Indie Rock adoption, like The Very Best or Amadou & Mariam. Not only is three a trend, but it’s in France, informing decidedly anti-analog groups like Air. This is not the worst thing that can happen to music.
• Band they definitely didn’t mention: Malajube, the French-Canadian Pavement (if you’ve never listened, seriously, click that link). Hm.

Awesome interview, coming to the mothership soon for a feature. Meanwhile, thanks again for your help; if I used your question, we’ll be sure to credit you. - f.