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Air (French band)

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For the Japanese band of the same name, see Air (Japanese band).
Air

Air is a French music duo, consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. Nicolas Godin studied architecture at the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Versailles whereas Jean-Benoît Dunckel studied mathematics before forming a band in 1995. Their debut EP, Premiers Symptômes, was followed by the critically acclaimed album Moon Safari, the re-release of Premiers Symptômes, The Virgin Suicides (soundtrack), 10,000Hz Legend, Everybody Hertz, and Talkie Walkie.

Musical Style

Although Air's music is often referred to as electronica, their form of electronic music really owes more to the synthesizer sounds of the 1970s such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, and Francis Lai. Other influences are psychedelic rock pioneers Pink Floyd; Krautrockers Tangerine Dream; Jean-Jacques Perrey (although there are some echoes of dance music styles in the production); and French crooner Serge Gainsbourg. Air's music also has jazz inflections at times. Before founding Air, JB and Nicolas played together in the band Orange, with others such as Alex Gopher, Xavier Jamaux and Etienne de Crécy – names that have recently reappeared in connection with Air's remixes.

Air uses many of their studio instruments (like Moog synthesizers, the Korg MS-20, Wurlitzer and Vocoder) live on stage, where their ability to improvise is more clearly highlighted. The band performs the well-known tracks from the albums live as extended or altered versions. Air often works together, both in the studio and live on stage, with artists like Beth Hirsch (Moon Safari), Françoise Hardy ("Jeanne"), Jean-Jacques Perrey ("Cosmic Bird"), Gordon Tracks ("Playground Love" and "Easy Going Woman"), Beck (10,000Hz Legend) and, on the 2004 tour, with Dave Palmer and drummer Earl Harvin.

Their music has also frequently been used in commercials and television. "Surfing on a Rocket" is the background music for the Nissan Armada commercial (2004). "Playground Love" was used in a Levi's jeans commercial (2002). "La Femme d'Argent" is played in the background on Dublin's FM104 Adrian Kennedy phone show, and was also played in the pilot episode of Veronica Mars. The song "Run" was also used in Veronica Mars, in the final scene of episode 7 of season 2 entitled "Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner." "Alpha Beta Gaga" was used in the "Orange" network advert (the try commercial) 2004. L'Oreal used "La Femme D'Argent" for one of its L'Oreal Paris ads.

On September 18, 2006, Darkel, a solo album by Jean-Benoît Dunckel, was released.

Air have also recorded a DJ mix album, Late Night Tales: Air, for Azuli Records' Late Night Tales series. The release was initially scheduled for October 2005, but was delayed several times. It finally was released, complete with a new sleeve design, on 11 September 2006.

Air have often collaborated with American film director Sofia Coppola. They composed the music to her debut film The Virgin Suicides and have made prominent contributions to her later films Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette. They also made cameo appearances in the latter film.

Air also contributed heavily to the album 5:55 by French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, which was released in August 2006. This is of interest as Air listed Charlotte Gainsbourg's father, Serge Gainsbourg, as a major influence.

In June 2006 Jean-Benoît Dunckel said in an interview with NME that they had recorded most of the material for a new album. It is apparently a new direction for the band. The album is titled Pocket Symphony, and features former Pulp vocalist Jarvis Cocker and is produced by Nigel Godrich. The album is to be released worldwide on 6 February 2007. Air will embark on a European tour from Mid March, which will be followed by shows in the US from Mid April to Mid May. They will play at major festivals both in Europe and Japan during the summer and then continue touring for the rest of 2007.


Discography

Albums

Singles/EPs

  • 1995 "Modular Mix" - 12"/CD Source (the title alludes to Le Corbusier's modulor system)
  • 1996 "Casanova 70" - 12"/CD Source
  • 1996 "Modular" - 12"/CD Mo'Wax
  • 1997 "Le Soleil Est Près De Moi" - 12"/CD Source
  • 1998 "Californie" - 7" Source
  • 1998 "Sexy Boy" - 7"/12"/Cassette/CD Source - UK #13
  • 1998 "Kelly Watch The Stars" - 7"/12"/CD Source - UK #18
  • 1998 "All I Need" - 12"/CD Source - UK #29
  • 2000 "Playground Love" - 7"/12"/CD Record Makers #25
  • 2001 "Radio #1" - 7"/12"/CD Source - UK #31
  • 2001 "How Does It Make You Feel?" - 7" Source
  • 2001 "People in the City" - 12" Source
  • 2002 "Don't Be Light" - 12" Source
  • 2002 "Everybody Hertz" - CD/EP Source UK
  • 2004 "Cherry Blossom Girl" - CD/12"/7" Source
  • 2004 "Surfing on a Rocket" - CD/12"/7"/DVD Source
  • 2004 "Alpha Beta Gaga" - CD/12" Source UK #44
  • 2004 Surfing on a Rocket E.P. - CD Source (US-version)

Compilations

  • 1995 "Modulor Mix" on SourceLab - 12"/CD Source
  • 1996 "Casanova 70" on SourceLab 2 - 12"/CD Source
  • 1997 "Soldissimo (EDC Remix)" on Superdiscount - 12"/CD Solid
  • 1997 "Cosmic Bird" (with Jean-Jacques Perrey) on SourceLab 3Y - 12"/CD Source
  • 2000 "Planet Vega" on At Home With The Groovebox - 12"/CD Grand Royal
  • 2002 "Dirty Trip (Live)" on Rarewerks II - CD Astralwerks
  • 2006 "Il Secondo Giorno (Instrumental)" on Marie Antoinette OST - CD Verve Forecast

Remixes, non-album and live tracks

  • 1996 Ollano "Latitudes (Air Remix)" on Latitudes - 12" Artefact
  • 1997 Crustation "Purple (La Femme D'Argent Mix)" on Purple - 12"/CD Jive Records
  • 1997 Neneh Cherry "Kootchi (Air Remix)" on Neneh Chérie Remixes - 100% French Mixes - CD Hut Records
  • 1997 Depeche Mode "Home (Air "Around The Golf" Remix)" on Home - 12"/CD Mute Records
  • 1997 Alex Gopher "Brakes On Mix" on Gordini Mix Remixes - 12"/CD Solid
  • 1998 Étienne Daho "Me Manquer (Londres En Été - Air Remix)" on A New World - 12"/CD Virgin
  • 1998 Air with Françoise Hardy "Jeanne" (Sexy Boy B-Side)
  • 1998 "Mabrouk" (Moon Safari Tour, version of the title track of the French TV show "30 Millions D’Amis")
  • 1998 "Be A Bee" (Moon Safari Tour)
  • 1998 "Le Slow" (Moon Safari Tour, cover of "Melissa" by Francis Lai, Bilitis soundtrack)
  • 1998 "Maggot Brain" (Moon Safari Tour, cover "Maggot Brain" by Funkadelic)
  • 1998 "Tomorrow Never Knows" (Moon Safari Tour, cover of "Tomorrow Never Knows" by The Beatles)
  • 1998 "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind" (Moon Safari Tour, cover of the soundtrack by John Williams (composer))
  • 1998 "Blue Monday" (Moon Safari Tour, cover of "Blue Monday" by New Order)
  • 1999 Beth Hirsch "Minor's Son" (with J.B. Dunckel on Rhodes piano)
  • 1999 Alex Gopher "Ralph And Kathy" (with J.B. Dunckel on keyboards and MS20)
  • 2002 David Bowie "A Better Future (Air Remix)" on Heathen (Ltd. Edition) - CD Virgin Records
  • 2002 "You Make It Easy (Demo Version)" (Deck Safari Part 2)
  • 2002 "Summer Love (Demo Version)" (Deck Safari Part 2)
  • 2002 "Flowerhead" (Everybody Hertz Japan Bonus Track)
  • 2004 "Easy Going Woman" (Talkie Walkie Japan Bonus Track)
  • 2005 "Heaven Hammer" (Air's remix of Beck's "Missing", from the Beck remix album Guerolito)

Additional single and album remixes

  • 1998 "Sexy Boy" (Bertrand Version, Bertrand Burgalat)
  • 1998 "Sexy Boy" (Deep Dish Remixes, Promo Only 12")
  • 1999 "Sexy Boy" (QAF Remix)
  • 1999 "All I Need" (BB Breakbeat Mix)
  • 2002 "Le Soleil Est Près de Moi" (Money Mark Remix, Premiers Symptômes Japan Bonus Track)
  • 2002 "Le Soleil Est Près de Moi" (Buffalo Daughter Remix, Premiers Symptômes Japan Bonus Track)

Videos and movies

Special projects

  • 2002 Monochromaticomouss (Hormonorium, Installation by Décosterd & Rahm)
  • 2002 Polyvibratorwaves (Hormonorium, Installation by Décosterd & Rahm)
  • 2002 Orange Blossom (Peinture Placebo, Installation by Décosterd & Rahm)
  • 2002 Ginger (Peinture Placebo, Installation by Décosterd & Rahm)
  • 2003 Near Life Experience (Ballet, Angelin Preljocaj)
  • 2004 Pink TV (TV Signation)
  • 2006 Late Night Tales: Air - CD Azuli Records
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