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Air (French band)

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For the Japanese band, see Air (Japanese band).
Air

Air is a French music duo, consisting of Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel. The name Air is a backronym for Amour, Imagination, Rêve[1] which translates to Love, Imagination, Dream. Some have speculated that the name is a reference to Jean Michel Jarre's influential debut album, Oxygene.[citation needed]

Air's debut EP, Premiers Symptômes, was followed by the critically acclaimed album Moon Safari, the re-release of Premiers Symptômes, The Virgin Suicides (soundtrack), 10 000 Hz Legend, Everybody Hertz, Talkie Walkie and Pocket Symphony.

Their most recent album, Pocket Symphony, was released on March 5, 2007. The album features former Pulp vocalist Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy, and is produced by Nigel Godrich. Air went on a European tour in March, followed by a North America tour that included an appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. They will play at major festivals both in Europe and Japan during the summer and then continue touring for the rest of 2007.

Career

Genesis of band

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. Before founding Air, Dunckel and Godin played together in the band Orange, with others such as Alex Gopher, Xavier Jamaux and Etienne de Crécy. These musicians have subsequently contributed to remixes of tracks recorded by Air.

Musical style

Air's music is often referred to as electronica; their form of electronic music was influenced by 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 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" - Gordon Tracks is a pseudonym of the French singer Thomas Mars from Phoenix), Beck (10 000 Hz Legend), on the 2004 tour with Dave Palmer and drummer Earl Harvin and on the 2007 tour with Earl Harvin, Vincent Taurelle and Steve Jones.


Other works

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. Air drummer and former Redd Kross member Brian Reitzell put together the soundtrack to Lost in Translation including contributions from Air. The soundtrack for Sofia Coppola's latest film Marie Antoinette also features contributions from Air.

Air wrote and played the music of 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.

Discography

For complete listing and details, see Air discography.

Studio albums

Title Release date Chart positions
Moon Safari January 16, 1998 #6 UK, #21 France
The Virgin Suicides February 28, 2000 #14 UK, #17 France, #161 US
10 000 Hz Legend May 28, 2001 #7 UK, #7 France, #88 US, #23 Italy, #1 Ireland
Talkie Walkie January 26, 2004 #2 UK, #3 France, #61 US, #3 Italy, #1 Ireland
Pocket Symphony March 5, 2007 #22 UK, #8 France, #40 US, #16 Italy, #8 Ireland

Other albums

Title Release date
Premiers Symptômes July, 1997 (Re-released August, 1999)
Everybody Hertz February 18, 2002
City Reading (Tre Storie Western) March 25, 2003
Late Night Tales: Air September 11, 2006

References

  1. ^ Lesieur, Jennifer: "Air de A à Z". Étudiant, L', 2002
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