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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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DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2021-09-05 15:10:52.
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