Air (band)

Air is a French electronic music band, composed of Jean-Benoît Dunckel and Nicolas Godin. The band was formed in 1995. They have been highly acclaimed by critics, especially with their first LP, called Moon Safari.

Although Air is considered an electronic or downtempo music band, their sound is actually based on synthesizer sounds from artists from the 70s, such as Jean-Michel Jarre and Vangelis. Other influences cite the psychedelic band Pink Floyd, Krautrock musicians Tangerine Dream and French musician Serge Gainsbourg. Occasionally they include jazz touches.

History

Before they formed Air, J. B. and Nicolas played together in the band Orange, with other musicians, such as Alex Gopher, Xavier Jamaux and Etienne de Crécy (musicians who have also reappeared on Air remixes).

With their album Moon Safari, from 1998, they made themselves known to the whole world in a fresh and innovative way. It was a huge success with the public and critics. Since then his singles have not been numerous, but they have been successful, such as Kelly Watch the Stars.

Then, in 2000, they composed the soundtrack for Sofia Coppola's film The Virgin Suicides, creating an atmosphere very consistent with the theme of the film.

Their next album, 10,000 Hz Legend, released in 2001, is closer to electronic pop than to the ambient atmospheres that reigned in their first full-length album; This work earned them severe criticism and was not widely accepted by the public and musical experts.

After the poor reception of 10,000 Hz Legend, the French duo Air recovered the inspiration and spirit of that first work, they returned with the same formula of their first hit, pop melodies with the treatment exquisite electronics that could be called soft or low, moving away from Herzian experimentation.

In 2004 Talkie Walkie was released, warm and melancholic without being presumptuous; The ten songs are full of moments that refer to the great times of Moon Safari. With this album they sold 800,000 copies worldwide, which helped them vindicate themselves and leave behind the bad taste of their previous work.

Air uses many instruments (such as the Moog, Korg MS20, Wurlitzer and Vocoder), both in the studio and live. Generally in their live concerts they include extended or altered versions of songs from their albums and they improvise a lot on stage. Artists such as Beth Hirsch (she contributed some vocals to Moon Safari), Françoise Hardy (Jeanne), Jean-Jaques Perrey (Cosmic Bird<) have collaborated on her music. /i>), Gordon Tracks (Playground Love and Easy Going Woman), Beck (10,000 Hz Legend), on his 2004 tour, with Dave Palmer and drummer Earl Harvin. Some of Air's favorite bands are: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Amaranta (Moléculas de Amor), Beck, Tricky, among others.

In 2003 the band made a work called City Reading (Tre Storie Western) with the Italian writer Alessandro Baricco, and with the production of Nigel Godrich, where the Italian writer narrates passages of the novel City, with background music by Air.

After almost three years the band enters the studio. In 2007 the album Pocket Symphony was released, where the band returns again to a more ambient form in its music, generating sensations in the good Air style of being in a dream and spatial sensations with its music.

In 2009 they released their ninth studio album, Love 2, which was preceded by two singles, Do The Joy and Sing Sang Sung i>. Three years later, in 2012, they released a new studio material titled Le voyage dans la Lune (A trip to the Moon), which also served as a band sound for the restoration of the classic film Voyage to the Moon, directed by Georges Méliès in 1902.

Discography

Albums

In study

• 1998: Moon Safari
• 2001: 10,000 Hz Legend
• 2003: City Reading
• 2004: Talkie Walkie
• 2007: Pocket Symphony
• 2009: Love 2
• 2012: Le voyage dans la Lune

EP

• 1997: Premiers Symptômes

Soundtracks

• 2000: The Virgin Suicides

Remix albums

• 2002: Everybody Hertz
• 2006: Late Night Tales: Air
• 2015: The Remixes Vol 1
• 2015: The Remixes Vol 2
• 2016: Twentyears

Singles