Air
Country of origin:
France
Type of music generally:
Alternative pop, electronica
Status:
Most recent release, Twentyears (compilation of selected and rare tracks, 2016); most recent release of all-new music, Music for Museum (2014)
See also:
Wikipedia's entry on Air
Comparisons:
Stereolab
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
I stumbled across a French duo called Air that reminded me a bit of Stereolab, but with some interesting twists...
They've got the classic synths of Stereolab (moog and korg), and a few of their tracks feature some interesting 'vocoder' vocals by the 2 band members (Jean-Benoit Dunkel and Nicolas Godin) and Moon Safari also features 2 tracks with guest vocals by Beth Hirsch. (jeffw@smoe.org)
Recommended first album:
Moon Safari is the only one that had much impact on ecto
Recordings:
- Premiers Symptômes (1997)
- Moon Safari (1998)
- The Virgin Suicides (soundtrack, 2000)
- 10 000 Hz Legend (2001)
- Everybody Hertz (2002)
- Talkie Walkie (2004)
- Late Night Tales (2006)
- Pocket Symphony (2007)
- Love 2 (2009)
- Le Voyage Dans La Lune (soundtrack, 2012)
- Music for Museum (2014)
- Twentyears (compilation of selected and rare tracks, 2016)
Moon Safari
Release info:
1998
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended for electronica fans
Group members:
Jean-Benoît Dunkel—keyboards, synths, organ, vocals, piano, pan pipes, hand claps, glockenspiel
Nicolas Godin—bass, synths, percussion, vocals, guitar, hand claps, harmonica, glockenspiel, piano, organ, pan pipes, drums
Guest artists:
Beth Hirsch—vocals (2 tracks
Enfants square Burcq—vocals
Alf (a.k.a. Stephane Briat)—hand claps
Caroline L.—hand claps
Marlon—drums
Eric Regert—organ
David Whitaker—string arrangement, conducting
P. Woodcock—guitar, tuba
Comments:
not to be confused with Air Miami which i initially did with all the press Air was getting. quite good actually, one of the few CDs i think that actually lived up to the HYPE. smooth swanky kinda stereolab-ish but more pop song structured. (iflin@speakeasy.net)You must have Moon Safari. Atmospheric, classy, french, seventies, instrumentals with some female vocals (you may have heard "sexy boy" or "all i need" on the felicity soundtrack). Put this one on and try not to be whisked away to Paris in the '60s. A truly unique experience. (nnadel@hotmail.com)
The Virgin Suicides
Release info:
2000—The Virgin Suicides
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Jean-Benoît Dunkel, Nicolas Godin
Guest artists:
Hugo Ferran—saxophone (1)
Reitzell—drums (3, 6, 7, 12, 13)
Gordon Tracks (Thomas Mars)—vocals, drums (track 1)
Produced by:
Air
Comments:
Air is still working on the follow-up to their wonderful Moon Safari album, in the meantime this mostly instrumental soundtrack for the Sophia Coppolla film should tide fans over. Really moody, sexy and dark. Darker than previous work, I suggest Moon Safari first, then this since the two are pretty different. (nnadel@hotmail.com)
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