“air”
Air
Moon Safari
Astralwerks
Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckal, the two Parisians also known as Air have just released what I think is the sound of ‘98. Like fellow “Frenchies” Daft Punk, Air have given the pop, post-electronica fad world a sweet sigh of relief. For 40 minutes, Moon Safari gurgles and ebbs you into a semi-Pink Floydian translucent state. I’m sure most of you have heard the single “Sexy Boy,” with its percolating Moog and tres sexy French sing-speak, but there are even more futuristic journeys ahead for you to lounge and funk to. “Kelly Watch the Stars” is a little hymn dedicated to their love of one Charlie’s Angel, with vintage vocoders, glockenspiels, and a funky Rhodes organ over a spacey beat. French vocalist Beth Hirsch provides soothing breathy utterances to two tracks, “All I Need” and “You Make It Easy,” which both evoke an odd 60’s kitsch feeling. The album ends with the romantic lounge instrumental “Le Voyage De Penelope,” the perfect end to this very startling debut album. Astralwerks, 104 W. 29th St., New York, NY 10001; http://www.astralwerks.com
