Posted January 15, 20232 yr Appropriately, today (16th January) is the 25th anniversary of the UK release of Air's debut album, Moon Safari in 1998. Bon Anniversaire! Air (also known as Air: French band), is a French electronic music duo from Versailles, consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. The band was formed in 1995 and released an EP, Premiers Symptômes, the same year. The album reached number 6 on the UK albums chart on release and as a critical success being named the album of the year by both Select and The Face. The album was instrumental in opening up the downbeat electronic style of music in both the UK and the US. Probably the best known track from the album is the wonderful Sexy Boy, peaking at number 12 on the UK singles chart. For me, this is the most Daft Punk-esque track on the album and it consists of a pulsing electronic beat and a breathy French lyrics and with the odd Sexy Boy thrown in all against a sweeping melodic back track. Sexy Boy has been covered by The Kinky Boys and Kia for the Queer As Folk soundtrack (used very effectively in the TV show). The video seems to remove around a stuffed monkey and its travels to the moon. wouKI_myXxk The best track on the album imo is the stunning All I Need, featuring the smooth vocals of Beth Hirsch (Beth also provides the vocals for album track You Make It Easy). Beth met Air while they all lived in the artsy Montmatre district of Paris and she not only sang on All I Need, she composed the music and lyrics. This lush ballad uses the Wurlitzer electronic piano to gorgeous effect. The single peaked at number 29 in the UK (as the third and final single) and the video features a couple discussing their relationship (they were a real couple from California, USA). kxWFyvTg6mc The second single from the album (peaking at 18 on the chart) is the fantastic Kelly Watch The Stars, the highlight musically for me is the piano from 1:51 to 2:08, seagoing into some theramin. The main lyric is the song title repeated in Daft Punk style voice effect. The video is a bit odd, it features a girl called Kelly playing ping pong and having been knocked unconscious she travels into the night, but then regains consciousness and wins the match. Air seems to be playing Pong on a TV screen which relates to the match being played by Kelly. Rui0hzN-EFE Other album highlights include the sumptuous La femme d'argent and Talisman, both instrumentals and Remember (or Reee-member if you are Air). I bought this album on my 22nd birthday in January 1998 and it marked the beginning of my love of relaxed chilled electronic music, which influenced both Zero 7 in 2001 and Royksopp in 2002. Although Moon Safari remains my favourite Air album (and the best of 1998), I would recommend 2004's Talkie Walkie if you want to try out more Air. Spotify playlist:
January 16, 20232 yr Love the album, been thinking of re-buying it in vinyl recently, it's a big favourite album, I even gave it a listen a few days ago Love the singles + Remember
January 16, 20232 yr Ooooo a great choice here! You swapped so I was expecting something else before the thread opened... but I won't say what as I'm sure you'll still use that album in future months. I'm very much down for a listen through of this at some point this week, would be good to flesh it out with some of the other tracks from the era too - like the single version of Kelly Watch the Stars etc
January 16, 20232 yr Air were fab and this album was their peak - and Ce Matin La is drop dead gorgeous, probably the best track on the album (Hi AH!) IQdMAzsj7Xc
January 16, 20232 yr Moon Safari is a great choice. Like Bjork, I played it last week in the car. I do prefer Air's next album, 10000 Hz Legend, which didn't do quite as well. It has a much bigger scale to it. We could arrange a listen through once we know the dates for the BJSC semi-final sessions.
January 16, 20232 yr Another nice choice here based on the songs I know from them! I think 'Sexy Boy' and 'Ce Matin-Là' (courtesy of AH Gold) are the only ones I know from this album. Will certainly be up for another listenthrough whenever one happens (I think we'll be getting the BJSC listenthroughs in early this time, should also be one for Club Bizarre at some point but I'm sure things can be coordinated).
January 16, 20232 yr It's not the longest of albums so we only really need an hour... They're releasing a remastered version via Vinyl Me Please for the anniversary. I'm fully intending on rejoining for that album alone as it just looks so pretty...
January 17, 20232 yr That VMP looks very nice indeed I also like some later albums like Talkie Walkie and the Virgin Suicides soundtrack Did they split up or do they still exist?
January 17, 20232 yr I love the singles! I heard the album once, perhaps nearly 20 years ago but need to give it a re-listen.
January 17, 20232 yr Author That VMP looks very nice indeed I also like some later albums like Talkie Walkie and the Virgin Suicides soundtrack Did they split up or do they still exist? They haven’t released anything for over 10 years, but not sure if they have officially split.
January 17, 20232 yr Funnily enough I posted this in the "what are you listening to?" thread in The Lounge just a couple of weeks ago :lol: : I watched TOTP story of 1998 the other night and fell in love with this ever since, swoon :wub: (I have heard some Air songs but somehow not their biggest hit until now lol) wouKI_myXxk ...so would definitely be interested in this. 'La femme d'argent' has been on my stress relieving playlist for a few years now. That vinyl looks stunning btw :wub:
January 17, 20232 yr Sexy Boy and Kelly Watch the Stars are wonderful, I discovered them quite late on but they've stuck with me a lot, would be very up for hearing the rest of this x
January 17, 20232 yr Author I can host a listen through tomorrow if that's OK with everyone. Thanks! I have never been to a listen through. Where do I go and what do I do?
January 17, 20232 yr Sorry, I've just changed it to Thursday as I noticed the 2000s forum are listening to their album tomorrow. It's on synctube Jester, I'll post the link on the day. You don't have to register, you can go straight in and start posting. You will be given a name which you can change to Jester if you want to.
January 18, 20232 yr The singles from Moon Safari did pretty well in the UK charts: Sexy Boy/13, chart run: {13}-28-42-64 Kelly Watch the Stars/18, chart run: {18}-39-47 All I Need/29, chart run: {29}-50-72
Create an account or sign in to comment