On Air (1996)
On Air is the second solo album from Alan Parsons, and it comes with a bit of a scavenger hunt attached. For reasons still unknown (to me at least) —international distribution weirdness? licensing purgatory? a curse laid upon it by forgotten radio execs?—this record is hard to find on major streaming platforms in its full form. As of this writing, On Air is scattered across various “singles” on Apple Music and Spotify, and the rest of the tracks are most reliably found in full-album form on YouTube. If you want the full experience, you’re going to have to do a little digital spelunking. But trust me: it’s worth the effort.
Once you piece it all together, On Air reveals itself as a solid and quietly compelling entry in Parsons’ post-Project catalog. It doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel or launch into uncharted sonic galaxies, but it’s a well-crafted and beautifully produced record—exactly what you’d expect from the man who helped define what “hi-fi” sounds like.
Stylistically, this album leans into a dreamy, art rock space. Think Division Bell-era Pink Floyd floating through low gravity. It’s lush, atmospheric, and slow-burning in the best way. There’s a haze that hangs over the whole thing, like a late summer sky just before sunset. You get polished layers of guitar, synth, and vocals—everything stitched together with Parsons’ signature production sheen, which, as always, manages to elevate even the quieter moments.
Now, as far as concept goes, things get a little… cloudy. Some interpretations say this is a tribute to the golden age of radio. Others claim it’s a loose meditation on the human desire to fly—both literally (airplanes, astronauts) and metaphorically (dreams, escape, freedom). Honestly, both fit, and both kind of coexist without ever shouting “this is the concept!” in the way that I Robot or Tales of Mystery and Imagination did. It’s more of a vibe album than a story-driven one, and that’s not a bad thing.
There are highlights—some tracks rise above the rest—but the real win here is the album’s consistency. It’s uniform in tone and quality, and while nothing on On Air screams “Alan Parsons’ greatest moment,” nothing drags it down either. There’s no “what were they thinking?” moment, no skip-inducing missteps. It’s pleasant, tight, and skillfully constructed.
In the grand scheme of Parsons’ career, On Air isn’t groundbreaking—but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a calm, confident album that glides by on expert musicianship and pristine production. For longtime fans, it’s another satisfying piece of the puzzle. For new listeners, it’s a reminder that even Alan Parsons’ deep cuts are worth tracking down—literally.
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Highlight Songs:
Too Close to the Sun
Cloudbreak
So Far Away
Blown By The Wind
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
I probably will end up owning this record for when I find myself in the mood for this style of music. It will absolutely be enjoyable to listen to all the way through. You are not entirely missing out if you stream a few songs here and there, but it is definitely worth not skipping.
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Overall Rating:
3.5 Stars
