With each subsequent Air release, one is never certain if Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel are going to portray intergalactic Lotharios or conduct confounding experiments. An extended version of their score for a hundred and ten year-old silent science fiction film screams “confounding experiment,” but the French band’s Le Voyage Dans la Lune is surprisingly accessible.
The thunderous opening of “Astronomic Club” evokes a James Bond title sequence before dissolving into buzzy psychedelia. “Seven Stars” perfectly casts Beach House‘s Victoria Legrand as a moon goddess, serenading the piano melody soaring through a galaxy of skittering drums and electronic beeps. The former robotic lounge lizards continue to improve their uptempo songwriting craft with “Parade,” a cheerier take on the sinister eroticism of “Dead Bodies” from their masterwork, The Virgin Suicides. Standout track “Moon Fever” (an unofficial remix of Fatboy Slim‘s “Right Here, Right Now”) vividly depicts weightlessness and desolation. “Sonic Armada” imagines an ostentatious Tony Banks mellotron solo as performed by a sentient program. Despite a cameo from Air‘s trademark boudoir bass guitar, carnality is noticeably absent, either out of respect to the chaste source material or as an apology for the joyless sex of 2009′s Love 2. Vous êtes pardonnés.
Air does not usually spring to mind paranoid, schizophrenic music, but when battling aliens on the moon with umbrellas, what would sound more appropriate? Late last year, we found out that the famed, super chill French duo were soundtracking a new, color version of Georges Méliès’ 1902 silent film Le Voyage Dans La Lune (Journey To The Moon) . First, a collaboration with Beach House's Victoria Legend was heard. Today, we have "Seven Stars," possibly the biggest freak out song in Air's highly celebrated discography. Also: more here
Like the communication device of its title, Talkie Walkie sounds intimate, yet distant and distorted.
In forgoing guest vocalists for the first time, Air unerringly personalize their songwriting. Aton...
Air does not usually spring to mind paranoid, schizophrenic music, but when battling aliens on the moon with umbrellas, what would sound more appropriate? Late last year, we found out that the famed, super chill French duo were soundtracking a new, color version of Georges Méliès’ 1902 silent film Le Voyage Dans La Lune (Journey To The Moon) . First, a collaboration with Beach House's Victoria Legend was heard. Today, we have "Seven Stars," possibly the biggest freak out song in Air's highly celebrated discography. Also: more at elbo.ws
KCRW's Jason Bentley on The Virgin Suicides: Air
29 days agoPlayed "Seven Stars (Feat. Victoria Legrand Of Beach House)" 05/22/2013 10:05 am
KCRW's Jason Bentley on The Virgin Suicides: Air
29 days agoPlayed "Seven Stars (Feat. Victoria Legrand Of Beach House)" 05/22/2013 10:05 am
TheOwlMag on The Virgin Suicides: Air
5 months agoAir Le Voyage Dans la Lune [Astralwerks]
With each subsequent Air release, one is never certain if Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel are going to portray intergalactic Lotharios or conduct confounding experiments. An extended version of their score for a hundred and ten year-old silent science fiction film screams “confounding experiment,” but the French band’s Le Voyage Dans la Lune is surprisingly accessible.
The thunderous opening of “Astronomic Club” evokes a James Bond title sequence before dissolving into buzzy psychedelia. “Seven Stars” perfectly casts Beach House‘s Victoria Legrand as a moon goddess, serenading the piano melody soaring through a galaxy of skittering drums and electronic beeps. The former robotic lounge lizards continue to improve their uptempo songwriting craft with “Parade,” a cheerier take on the sinister eroticism of “Dead Bodies” from their masterwork, The Virgin Suicides. Standout track “Moon Fever” (an unofficial remix of Fatboy Slim‘s “Right Here, Right Now”) vividly depicts weightlessness and desolation. “Sonic Armada” imagines an ostentatious Tony Banks mellotron solo as performed by a sentient program. Despite a cameo from Air‘s trademark boudoir bass guitar, carnality is noticeably absent, either out of respect to the chaste source material or as an apology for the joyless sex of 2009′s Love 2. Vous êtes pardonnés.
more at theowlmag.comQuit Mumbling on The Virgin Suicides: Air
8 months agoAir does not usually spring to mind paranoid, schizophrenic music, but when battling aliens on the moon with umbrellas, what would sound more appropriate? Late last year, we found out that the famed, super chill French duo were soundtracking a new, color version of Georges Méliès’ 1902 silent film Le Voyage Dans La Lune (Journey To The Moon) . First, a collaboration with Beach House's Victoria Legend was heard. Today, we have "Seven Stars," possibly the biggest freak out song in Air's highly celebrated discography. Also: more here
KCRW's Jason Bentley on The Virgin Suicides: Air
9 months agoPlayed "Sonic Armada" 09/23/2012 3:56 am
Pitchfork Best Albums on The Virgin Suicides: Air
10 months agoAlbum "Talkie Walkie" scored 8.3
Like the communication device of its title, Talkie Walkie sounds intimate, yet distant and distorted. In forgoing guest vocalists for the first time, Air unerringly personalize their songwriting. Aton...
more at pitchfork.comQuit Mumbling on The Virgin Suicides: Air
10 months agoAir does not usually spring to mind paranoid, schizophrenic music, but when battling aliens on the moon with umbrellas, what would sound more appropriate? Late last year, we found out that the famed, super chill French duo were soundtracking a new, color version of Georges Méliès’ 1902 silent film Le Voyage Dans La Lune (Journey To The Moon) . First, a collaboration with Beach House's Victoria Legend was heard. Today, we have "Seven Stars," possibly the biggest freak out song in Air's highly celebrated discography. Also: more at elbo.ws