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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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Entry last updated 2021-09-05 18:10:52.
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